Paul Doyle, the man who drove his car into a crowd of Liverpool fans celebrating the Premier League title, is set to face his victims at his upcoming sentencing. The incident, which occurred in May, left over 130 pedestrians injured, including two babies, during what should have been a joyous occasion for the city. Doyle is scheduled to be sentenced on either December 15 or 16 after unexpectedly changing his plea to guilty on all 31 charges against him during the second day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Doyle had previously spent more than six months denying serious charges, including dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. However, in a dramatic turn of events, he admitted to 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, three counts of wounding, and one count each of dangerous driving and affray. Judge Menary warned Doyle that a custodial sentence of significant length is "inevitable".

Following the incident, Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald of Merseyside Police expressed hope that the knowledge of Doyle's impending prison sentence would provide some comfort to the victims. He remarked, "It is hard to forget the shocking scenes from that day. What should have been a day of celebration for the city turned into a distressing and frightening experience."

Fitzgerald highlighted the exceptional response from emergency services, who worked tirelessly to assist the injured, including extracting four individuals trapped under Doyle's vehicle. He noted, "It is only by sheer luck that nobody was killed because of Doyle’s reckless actions."

Sarah Hammond, chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in Mersey-Cheshire, stated, "Today’s convictions bring a measure of justice for an act that caused unimaginable harm during what should have been a day of celebration for the city of Liverpool." She emphasised that Doyle's actions not only harmed individuals but also instilled fear in a community united in joy.

As the case moves towards sentencing, many victims are expected to prepare personal impact statements, allowing them to share the ongoing effects of that day of chaos and terror. Doyle's guilty plea marks a significant moment in a case that has deeply affected the Liverpool community.