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An ex- Royal Marine acted as a “man in a rage” when he mowed down scores of Liverpool football club fans during a championship celebration, in what many feared was a terrorist attack, a court has heard.

“The footage is truly shocking.”

Those injured of Paul Doyle cried as dashcam footage depicted bodies spinning through the air while he sped towards the gathering and shouted: “Fucking hell, move!”

Doyle, 54, will learn his fate on Tuesday after pleading guilty on the first day of his trial last month to 31 offences involving 21 adults and eight children.

‘Consumed by Anger’

Prosecutors stated the court that the video evidence from Doyle’s large people carrier was “truly shocking”. The recording revealed the father of three shouting “expletives” and “move out of the way” as he drove towards a large crowd of supporters, with people frantically dragging children to safety as he blasted the horn.

It was stated in court that Doyle was a “individual whose anger whose anger had completely taken hold of him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, speeding up while individuals were struck by his vehicle.

Scale of the Carnage

Overall, the ex-marine hurt 134 people in just seven minutes – including more than 50 requiring hospital care. An infant was “remarkably” uninjured despite being left splayed on the road when Doyle’s car hit his pram, according to testimony.

One fan, a man named in court, was seen being launched into the air by the car, sustaining a laceration on his head, rib fractures and multiple abrasions.

Doyle could be heard shouting “for God’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” before ploughing further into panicked fans, among them an older woman and young children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.

Celebration Descends into Chaos

Addressing a packed courtroom, lawyers said about 1 million people were present at “what they thought would be a day of joyfulness” marking the football club’s championship win. Scenes of jubilation swiftly became “horror”, it was said, when the driver entered the crowd while trying to collect a companion who had been at the parade.

“Witnesses believed what was taking place was a terrorist attack.”

Brave Intervention Stops Driver

With injured people on the street, the vehicle’s path was stopped by an ex-army member, a man identified in court, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and forced the gearstick into park. Despite this, Doyle continued pressing the gas pedal, the court heard.

In his police interview, Doyle stated he acted in a “blind panic” because he feared for his life. However, prosecutors contended that the dashcam footage showed Doyle “just lost his temper in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to”. The prosecutor added: “Consumed by anger, he targeted the crowd and as he did so he intended to cause them serious harm.”

Reckless Behavior Before the Attack

The video showed the driver had been driving dangerously prior to entering downtown, undertaking cars at speed and running red lights. He ignored road closures and bypassed other cars, including an ambulance and police cars, as he entered the crowds.

The defendant is understood to be facing a jail term of more than 10 years when he is sentenced on Tuesday.