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A former Royal Marine was a “man in a rage” when he mowed down scores of LFC supporters during a victory parade, an incident many initially feared to be a act of terrorism, according to court proceedings.

“The footage is profoundly upsetting.”

Those injured in the incident cried as video from the car’s camera showed people being thrown into the air as he accelerated into crowds and shouted: “Fucking hell, move!”

The 54-year-old defendant is due to be sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty on the first day of his trial last month to 31 offences against 21 adults and eight children.

‘Consumed by Anger’

Prosecutors warned those in court that the video evidence from the defendant’s two-tonne Ford Galaxy was “truly shocking”. It showed the parent yelling “fucking pricks” and “move out of the way” as he drove towards a large crowd of supporters, some pulling children out of the way 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, accelerating as people collided with his car.

Scale of the Carnage

Overall, the former Royal Marine hurt 134 people in just seven minutes – including more than 50 requiring hospital care. An infant was “miraculously” unharmed despite being left splayed on the road when Doyle’s car hit his pram, the court heard.

A supporter, a man named in court, was shown being thrown into the air by the car, suffering a cut to the back of his head, broken ribs and numerous scrapes.

Doyle could be heard shouting “fuck’s sake move! Get out of my path!” prior to driving deeper into screaming supporters, among them an older woman and young children who were dragged under the car.

Celebration Descends into Chaos

Speaking to a full court, the prosecution said about 1 million people were present at “an event they believed to be a day of joyfulness” marking Liverpool winning their 20th league title. Scenes of jubilation turned to “terror”, the prosecutor said, as Doyle drove into oncoming fans as he attempted to pick up a friend who had been at the parade.

“Witnesses thought that the events unfolding was a terrorist attack.”

Brave Intervention Stops Driver

With injured people on the street, the vehicle’s path was brought to a halt by an ex-army member, a man identified in court, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and held the car’s gear selector in “park”. Even then, Doyle kept his foot on the accelerator, according to evidence.

In his police interview, the defendant claimed he acted in a “blind panic” because he feared for his life. However, the prosecution argued that the video showed Doyle “simply lost control in his determination to reach his destination”. The prosecutor added: “Consumed by anger, he drove into the crowd and in doing so he intended to cause them serious harm.”

Dangerous Driving Prior to Incident

Footage showed the driver was driving recklessly prior to entering downtown, undertaking cars at speed and jumping red lights. He ignored road closures and weaved around other vehicles, including an ambulance and police cars, as he entered the crowds.

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