Paul Doyle appears in court over Liverpool parade crash

Paul Doyle has appeared in court accused of driving his car into a crowd of people after Liverpool FC's trophy parade.

The former Royal Marine, 53, faces seven charges including wounding with intent, causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, attempting to cause GBH with intent and dangerous driving.

The charges relate to six victims, including two children aged 11 and 17, after a total of 79 people were injured in the city centre on Monday evening.

The father-of-three of Burghill Road in West Derby, Liverpool, was visibly emotional as he was escorted into the dock at Liverpool Magistrates Court wearing a black suit, grey tie and white shirt.

His case was then fast-tracked to Liverpool Crown Court, where more serious offences are dealt with, at the request of Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC.

Mr Doyle was not asked to respond to the charges at the hearing, which lasted about 45 minutes.

He sat with his head down as the charges were read to him, and was told he would next appear on 14 August for a plea hearing.

As the hearing went on, he looked around the courtroom from the glass panelled dock at a room packed with reporters, police officers, lawyers and other professionals.

Judge Menary said that reporting restrictions, introduced when Mr Doyle appeared before magistrates earlier, would remain in place.

Those restrictions prohibit the identification of the six victims named in the charges so far from being published.

Philip Astbury, prosecuting, told Judge Menary the charges "as they stand may change".

"This is an ongoing investigation and there are a great deal of witnesses to be interviewed and footage to be reviewed," he said.

The case was listed twice on the same day, first before magistrates, and then the higher court, both of which are in the same building.

Judge Menary said: "Given the genuine and not surprising public interest in this case it occurred to me it would be appropriate for the matter, on being sent to this court, to be listed before me for further directions."

Philip Astbury, prosecuting, told Judge Menary the charges "as they stand may change".

"This is an ongoing investigation and there are a great deal of witnesses to be interviewed and footage to be reviewed," he said.

The court heard that the dangerous driving charge included Mr Doyle's home street of Burghill Road and Water Street, as well as unnamed roads in between.

Damian Nolan, defending, said there would be no application for bail at the hearing.

Judge Menary set a provisional trial date for 24 November, with an estimated length of three to four weeks.

Mr Doyle stood with his hands clasped and nodded as he was remanded in custody.

Hundreds of thousands of jubilant Liverpool fans packed the city centre on Bank Holiday Monday and lined the 10-mile (16km) parade route as Liverpool FC celebrated winning their second Premier League crown and 20th top-flight league title.

Reports of a car colliding with pedestrians along Water Street, just off the parade route, were first received by police at about 18:00 on Monday.

Ambulances arrived to take people to hospital, with a nine-year-old among the youngest victims of the incident.

A pram carrying a baby boy was spun metres down the street when it was struck, but the child was not hurt.

A fundraising campaign set up for those affected by the incident has raised more than £30,000, including a £10,000 donation from ex-player Jamie Carragher's charity foundation.