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A former Royal Marines Commando was a “man in a rage” as he drove into scores of Liverpool football club supporters during a championship celebration, an incident many initially feared to be a act of terrorism, a court has heard.

“The video was truly shocking.”

Victims in the incident cried while dashcam footage showed people being thrown into the air while he sped towards the gathering and shouted: “Get out of the way!”

The 54-year-old defendant will learn his fate on Tuesday after pleading guilty on the first day of his trial last month to 31 criminal charges involving 29 victims, including eight minors.

‘Consumed by Anger’

The prosecution warned those in court that the footage from the defendant’s two-tonne Ford Galaxy proved to be “extremely graphic”. The recording revealed the parent yelling “fucking pricks” as well as “move out of the way” while he headed straight for a large crowd of supporters, with people frantically dragging children to safety as his car horn blared.

It was stated in court that Doyle was a “individual whose anger had completely overpowered him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, speeding up as people collided with his car.

Scale of the Carnage

In total, the former Royal Marine injured 134 individuals in just seven minutes – including more than 50 requiring hospital care. An infant was “remarkably” unharmed even though he was left on the roadway after the vehicle struck his stroller, according to testimony.

One fan, Simon Nash, was shown being thrown into the air by the car, sustaining a laceration to the back of his head, broken ribs and numerous scrapes.

The defendant was heard screaming “for God’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” prior to driving deeper into screaming supporters, including an elderly woman and children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.

Scene of Jubilation Turns to Horror

Addressing a packed courtroom, lawyers said approximately a million individuals had attended “what they thought would be a joyous occasion” to celebrate Liverpool winning their 20th league title. The celebratory atmosphere turned to “terror”, it was said, when the driver entered the crowd while trying to collect a companion who had been at the parade.

“Witnesses thought that the events unfolding constituted a terrorist incident.”

Brave Intervention Stops Driver

With injured people on the street, the vehicle’s path was brought to a halt by a former soldier, Dan Barr, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and held the car’s gear selector in “park”. Even then, Doyle continued pressing the gas pedal, the court heard.

In his police interview, the defendant claimed he reacted in a “state of sheer panic” due to a fear for his safety. However, the prosecution argued that the dashcam footage showed Doyle “just lost his temper in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to”. It was further stated: “In a rage, he targeted the crowd and in doing so his intent was to cause serious injury.”

Dangerous Driving Prior to Incident

Footage indicated Doyle was driving recklessly prior to entering downtown, undertaking cars at speed and jumping red lights. He disregarded traffic diversion measures and weaved around other cars, including an ambulance and police cars, as he entered the crowds.

Doyle is understood to be facing a prison sentence of more than 10 years when he is sentenced on Tuesday.