Summary

Media caption,

Liverpool parade driver sentenced to more than 20 years

  1. Hearing resumespublished at 10:37 GMT

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Judge Andrew Menary KC is back on the bench and we're ready to resume.

    Philip Astbury, the junior counsel for the prosecution, will resume reading summaries of the victims' personal statements that he began yesterday.

    Paul Doyle is escorted back into the dock - he is again wearing a dark suit and tie.

  2. How did the Liverpool parade attack unfold?published at 10:26 GMT

    Hundreds of thousands of people were in Liverpool city centre on Bank Holiday Monday in late May to celebrate Arne Slot's side winning the Premier League title.

    Video footage of a car being driven into the large crowd on Water Street soon emerged on social media, allowing police to piece together what had happened.

    Warning: This footage contains some distressing scenes

    Media caption,

    Moment car drives into crowd at Liverpool trophy parade

  3. Trauma and pain as victims' voices heardpublished at 10:17 GMT

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Warning: This post contains some graphic description of the evidence that was heard on Monday.

    There is still a fair way to go until 54-year-old father-of-three Paul Doyle learns his fate.

    Already it has been a truly extraordinary sentencing hearing.

    I've covered the criminal courts for more than a decade and I've never seen anything quite like the dashboard camera footage and other videos that were played in court yesterday.

    There were gasps and tears in court.

    We heard the thudding sound of supporters hitting the dashboard of Doyle's 1.9 tonne Ford Galaxy, the screams of the injured, young children trapped under the wheels.

    The sheer scale of what happened on 26 May in Liverpool city centre is truly breathtaking.

    We've also heard detailed and harrowing accounts from the victims, the physical pain, the psychological trauma and the lasting anxiety.

    We're expecting further powerful stories to be told today before Doyle's sentence is handed down.

  4. What have we already heard in court?published at 10:07 GMT

    Ian Shoesmith
    Live page editor

    On Monday, Liverpool Court heard lead prosecutor Paul Greaney KC go through the sequence of events which led to more than 130 people being injured in Liverpool city centre.

    The details were often harrowing - we heard that Doyle used his Ford Galaxy, weighing nearly two tonnes, "as a weapon" and struck more than 100 people, the youngest of whom was a six-month-old baby in a pram.

    During the afternoon we heard a succession of deeply personal and moving victim impact statements, including from the mum of baby Teddy Eveson.

    We're expecting statements from more survivors this morning, before Doyle's barrister addresses Judge Andrew Menary KC to put forward points of mitigation.

    After that, the judge will pass sentence - he has already told Doyle that it will be a substantial one.

  5. Paul Doyle sentencing hearing to resumepublished at 10:01 GMT

    Ian Shoesmith
    Live page editor

    Court sketch of Paul Doyle in the dock. He wears a black suit and tie with a white shirt. He appears to be crying as his head rests in his handsImage source, Julia Quenzler
    Image caption,

    Paul Doyle rested his head in his hands and wept on several occasions while in the dock

    Good morning.

    The sentencing hearing for Paul Doyle, who injured more than 130 people when he drove his car into a crowd at Liverpool FC's Premier League victory parade in May, is due to resume at Liverpool Crown Court.

    We have already heard the prosecution outline what happened in and around Water Street in Liverpool city centre on Bank Holiday Monday 26 May.

    Our reporters Jonny Humphries and Mairead Smyth are at Liverpool Crown Court and will be providing live updates all day.

  6. Sentencing hearing will resume on Tuesdaypublished at 16:46 GMT 15 December

    Ian Shoesmith
    Live page editor

    Judge Andrew Menary KC says Paul Doyle's sentencing hearing will resume at 10:30 GMT on Tuesday at Liverpool Crown Court.

    It has been an extraordinary day of evidence, during which we have heard some very graphic and harrowing details of what happened towards the end of the Liverpool FC Premier League victory parade in the city on Bank Holiday Monday 26 May.

    This morning we heard the prosecution outline the facts of the case - Doyle has previously admitted all 31 charges against him.

    Then, this afternoon, victim impact statements - detailing a wide range of physical and psychological injuries - have been read in court.

    Thank you for following our live updates from court throughout the day.

    For a summary of today's evidence, please read our latest story.

    This live page will return at 10:00 GMT.

  7. 'I feel disgusting and broken' says mum injured in parade attackpublished at 16:32 GMT 15 December

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Warning: This update contains graphic medical details.

    Ms Aldridge spent 18 days in hospital and suffered a severe condition called Morel-Lavaellee Lesion.

    "Twice, doctors had to remove half a litre of blood from a cavity in my leg," she said in her victim impact statement.

    "Then came the blisters, leaking daily, turning into an open wound where my skin died and peeled away."

    She said her wound looked like a "shark bite" and "smelled so badly I felt ashamed being near people".

    "I felt disgusting, disfigured and broken," she said.

    Ms Aldridge said her baby Teddy, whose pram was struck by Paul Doyle's car, "hasn’t been in a pushchair since that day".

    "My leg will never be the same again. I will never be the same again. I am scarred for life.

    "This was supposed to be my maternity leave – a time to bond with my baby and make memories.

    "Instead, I’ve been robbed of those moments."

  8. 'I thought my Teddy was dead'published at 16:21 GMT 15 December

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Next we hear a statement written by Sheree Aldridge.

    The 37-year-old's six-month-old son Teddy Eveson was struck and knocked over by Paul Doyle's car.

    "We had just celebrated the Liverpool FC victory parade, and my partner Dan was excited to share this moment with our baby son Teddy, his first-born son, who was proudly dressed in his little Liverpool FC shirt.

    "In that moment I thought I was going to die. I didn’t know where Dan and Teddy was.

    "I felt an overwhelming pain in my leg and looked up to see Teddy’s pushchair on its side further up the road.

    "I thought my Teddy was dead. I thought I was next. I thought my children would grow up without a mother."

  9. 'My life stopped,' says PhD student injured in parade attackpublished at 16:19 GMT 15 December

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Mr Astbury reads the statement of scientist Abbie Chadwick, 29, who was completing her PhD at the University of Liverpool.

    She said: "My life is now very different - I have not worked a single day since and can count on one hand the number of times I have been in public on my own.

    "Immediately my life stopped, and my world shrunk.

    "I was physically injured in multiple places including my hands, wrists, ankle, knee, hip and neck. I am still in pain. I have been unable to restart any physical activity other than walking."

  10. 'I was separated from my wife for more than two hours'published at 16:17 GMT 15 December

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Mr Astbury next turns to the statement of Simon Nash, 53, who was seen on dashboard camera footage being flung off the bonnet of Doyle's car.

    He said: "Physically, the pain was immediate and severe. Breathing and moving were difficult because of the rib fractures."

    Mr Nash said he had been with his wife and son at the time of the attack.

    "We were separated when I was hit by the car," he said.

    "They couldn’t find me immediately after because of all the commotion.

    "It wasn’t until two-and-a-half hours later when my wife finally located me at the hospital with a police officer that they knew what had happened to me and I got confirmation they were safe.

    "I often replay the moments in my mind - the sound, the shock and fear.

    "I feel a loss of confidence and safety in situations that never used to bother me. Every time I see a Ford Galaxy, the incident replays in my mind."

  11. Liverpool 'feels tainted' after parade attackpublished at 16:15 GMT 15 December

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Mr Astbury reads the statement of student Emily Ashcroft, 20, who went to the parade with four friends.

    "Before the incident, my friends and I loved Liverpool, we loved living here.

    "But now, especially those who have no other ties to the city, we think about this place so much differently, it has been tainted and that makes me feel really sad."

  12. Day one of sentencing hearing concludespublished at 16:13 GMT 15 December

    Ian Shoesmith
    Live page editor

    The judge has just brought day one of the sentencing hearing to a close - Liverpool Crown Court will reconvene on Tuesday morning.

    At the conclusion of the hearing, Paul Doyle will be sentenced for 31 offences - he's been warned to expect a significant custodial sentence.

    My colleague Lynette Horsburgh is summing up the day's evidence as we speak - in the meantime we will continue with more of the victim impact statements that have been read in court this afternoon.

  13. Police inspector 'thought she was going to die'published at 16:08 GMT 15 December

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Prosecutor Mr Astbury reads statements from Merseyside Police officers who were on Water Street on the evening of the attack.

    Insp Emma Haffenden suffered an elbow injury when she was knocked down by Doyle as he reversed his car.

    "When I have thought about it I have become filled with emotion and cried since," she said. "This happens when I see colleagues who were present at the incident.

    "I have now developed a fear of vehicles reversing due to what happened to me, and believing I was going to die.

    "This is even if I am in public and I see a car reversing. It gives me flashbacks to what had happened on the day.

    "I believe that this has been the worst incident I have ever dealt with in 21 years as a police officer."

    Sgt Dan Hamilton added: "I remember hearing people screaming and crying.

    "I saw a pram with no baby inside and thought the worst, I truly believed people had died. I was trying to make sense of the chaos."

    And Sgt Sadie Harker said: "The feeling of helplessness, guilt, anger, and anxiety has been overwhelming."

  14. 'Every time Liverpool score, I end up back on Water Street'published at 16:03 GMT 15 December

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Mr Astbury reads a statement from 26-year-old Alan Spain.

    He said he loved watching Liverpool FC matches.

    Since the attack though, he said: "Every time I watch them, I end up on Water Street.

    "Every time I see the Liverpool jersey I was wearing that day, in my wardrobe, I end up on Water Street.

    "Every time Liverpool score and I see the fans in the Kop jump and cheer and celebrate, I end up on Water Street.

    "Because that’s what the crowd were doing. Everyone was cheering and celebrating, and everyone was in a joyous mood.

    "Everyone was there to have fun.

    "And that was ruined."

  15. Teacher 'worked in the same school Doyle's children attended'published at 16:00 GMT 15 December

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Haley Davies described how she thought she had lost her son in the attack.

    "I encountered one of the worst things a mother could experience," she said in her victim impact statement.

    "The relief [when I found him] is like nothing I’ve felt before. I hugged him tightly and was so relieved.

    She said she suffered a concussion and has been diagnosed with PTSD.

    "I work in a school and the children of the man arrested were in my school," she said.

    "Whilst they are not an issue in any way, it meant that I got moved to another school.

    "This upset me as I knew all the staff and pupils.

    "I had to go and say goodbye whilst I was off sick."

    "Why would another human being do that to so many innocent people and children?"

  16. Paramedic said his fear was 'immeasurable'published at 15:57 GMT 15 December

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Prosecutor Mr Astbury now reads a victim impact statement from paramedic James Vernon, 34.

    He was working as a cycle response paramedic, and on his way to help a reported heart attack victim, when he was knocked down by Doyle.

    "I have never feared for my life until that day," he said.

    "I was in the gutter, I thought I was in the middle of a terrorist incident.

    "We are trained and well-rehearsed on how to respond to terrorist incidents, but nothing prepares you for the terror that I felt in that split second, the fear was immeasurable."

    He said until the aftermath of this incident he had never "heard or seen my dad cry".

    "I no longer feel safe in crowds as a member of the public."

  17. 'My 13-year-old son was trapped under the car'published at 15:50 GMT 15 December

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Mr Astbury reads a statement from a woman whose 13-year-old son was trapped under Doyle's vehicle.

    She said: "My son was caught underneath the car and suffered an injury to his leg requiring multiple hospital visits and physiotherapy.

    "As a previously very active and fit child, he has now missed nearly six months of sport, leaving him physically unfit.

    "The trauma of the accident has also affected his mental health severely. He suffers from extreme post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is currently receiving counselling."

    She said her son had also become short-tempered.

    The woman's 15-year-old daughter was also injured in the attack, and suffers from anxiety in large crowds.

    She said her husband's "mental health is rock bottom".

    "This has had a huge impact on the whole family, making him distant from me and the children, and is leading to issues within my marriage," she said.

  18. 'Feeling of safety has been taken away'published at 15:46 GMT 15 December

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Mr Astbury reads the statement of Anna Bilonozhenko, 43, on behalf of herself and her daughter Sasha Bilonozhenko, 22.

    They sit listening in the public gallery as the prosecutor speaks.

    The family came to the UK from Ukraine in 2024 after escaping the war-torn country.

    "The move was extremely difficult – we had to leave behind our home, family and everything familiar," they said.

    "At the beginning of 2025 my mum passed away and I thought that spending a day out together might lift our spirits and bring a bit of light back into our lives.

    "Since the incident, I’ve suffered from constant physical pain and significant limited mobility in my leg following surgery."

    She said the physical injuries had caused long-term mobility issues as well as "extreme stress and anxiety".

    "We came to this country because of the war in our homeland, hoping to finally feel safe," she said.

    "At first, we did. But now that feeling has been taken away. Realising that is deeply painful – it feels like losing our safety all over again."

    She says of her daughter Sasha: "She had to think and act under extreme fear, trying to stay strong and make critical decisions whilst in complete shock.

    "Since then, she carries enormous stress and emotional exhaustion.

    "She feels she has to stay strong for me, but it has taken a serious toll on her mental health."

  19. 'This was the worst experience of my life'published at 15:44 GMT 15 December

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Mr Astbury reads a statement by Jacqueline McClaren, 60, who sustained a serious ankle injury in the attack.

    "I am a Hibernian FC fan," she said. "Prior to 26 May I would regularly attend football matches there and at Hibernian Ladies FC as my niece plays for them.

    "I have planned to attend these matches on numerous occasions since this incident and I have still not been able to make myself go due to the fear of being in crowded places."

    Jeremy Pentecost, 41, a delivery driver, said: "It was scary returning to work, being in and out of main roads, leaning into the van and walking back out into the road, panicking that a car would come out of nowhere and knock me over.

    "Work affected my mental health, driving around all day on my own, at first I was seeing bodies flying here there and everywhere, unable to stop thinking about the events of the day."

    He added: "I would say that this was the worst experience of my life."

  20. 'The pain has been relentless'published at 15:42 GMT 15 December

    Jonny Humphries
    Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court

    Mr Astbury next reads a statement from John Davey.

    The 31-year-old said: "The collision left me with spinal fractures in three places. Since then, the pain has been relentless, day and night.

    "I cannot work, which means I cannot provide for my family. I have three children, and the weight of responsibility has fallen on my partner.

    "That has left me feeling ashamed, embarrassed, and broken - because it is not fair that they must suffer for what happened to me."

    Quote Message

    I cannot see a future without pain, without stress, without anxiety."

    John Davey, Survivor of the Liverpool FC parade attack

    He said he had been diagnosed with depression.

    "I lie awake for hours, haunted by memories of that day."

    He described the "devastating" impact on his family.

    "The joy of football, the joy of family outings, the joy of living freely - all of it has been taken from me.

    "This incident has stolen my independence, my happiness, and my peace of mind.

    "It has changed me forever, and it has changed my family’s life forever."