A British man who drove his car into a crowd celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League title has been sentenced to 21 and a half years in prison after admitting dozens of serious criminal charges linked to the attack.
Paul Doyle was jailed on Tuesday for injuring 134 people, including eight children, when he ploughed into Liverpool soccer fans during the club’s victory parade in May. Prosecutors said the attack lasted just over a minute but left lasting physical and emotional damage on victims across the city.
Doyle, who pleaded guilty last month, admitted to 31 offenses, including nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. According to prosecutors, the attack was not planned but was driven by rage after Doyle lost control of his temper.
Addressing the court, prosecutor Paul Greaney described Doyle as “a man in a rage whose anger had completely taken hold of him,” saying the violence shattered what should have been “a day of joyfulness” for the city.
Investigators said Doyle had driven into Liverpool’s city center to collect friends who had attended the parade. At about 6 p.m., he accelerated into a dense crowd, repeatedly striking pedestrians while shouting, swearing, and sounding his horn. Some victims were thrown onto the hood of the vehicle, while others were dragged beneath it.
The court heard harrowing statements from victims who said the incident had changed their lives. Many said they now struggle with crowded spaces, work, and everyday routines. Some said they can no longer watch Liverpool matches without reliving the attack.
One of those injured was Anna Bilonozhenko, who required surgery for a fractured knee after being struck by Doyle’s Ford Galaxy. Bilonozhenko had moved to Britain from Ukraine in 2024 to escape the war.
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In a statement read to the court, she said, “We came to this country because of the war in our homeland, hoping to finally feel safe. At first, we did, but now that feeling has been taken away. It feels like losing our safety all over again.”
Doyle’s lawyer, Simon Csoka, told the court his client was “remorseful, ashamed, and deeply sorry” for the harm he caused. He pointed to character references from friends and acquaintances who said the attack was completely out of character.
“It is part of the paradox of this case,” Csoka said, explaining that those who knew Doyle found his actions “incomprehensible and utterly unlike the man they know.”
The judge said the length of the sentence reflected the scale of the harm, the number of victims, and the lasting consequences of Doyle’s actions.
As Doyle begins his prison term, authorities said the case serves as a reminder of how quickly moments of celebration can turn into tragedy, and of the enduring impact violent acts can leave on entire communities.
