Paul Doyle, was jailed for 21 years and six months on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to 31 offences relating to the crash on Water Street, Liverpool, became involved in a fight with Stuart Lucas
A former Royal Navy reservist who had his ear bitten off by Liverpool parade attacker Paul Doyle more than 30 years ago has broken his silence.
Stuart Lucas bravely stepped in to stop the well-built thug, then in the Royal Marines, from assaulting younger colleagues. He said today how trouble flared at motorway services when Doyle decked two young naval ratings with a flying kick after being challenged about his drunken behaviour.
Doyle then turned on Mr Lucas, sinking his teeth into the man’s his ear. Mr Lucas, who at the time was a Royal Navy sailor, said: “It was so painful I let go and then when I did let him go, he bit through it, chewed it up and spat it out.”
Last week, Doyle, 54, was sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison for driving into crowds at Liverpool FC’s title victory parade in the city last May, injuring 130 people. The thug admitted dangerous driving, affray and 29 other GBH-related charges in connection with the incident.
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Speaking in the wake of the sentencing, Mr Lucas described how “all hell broke loose” when Doyle – who had been drinking heavily – kicked off with the sailors at Charnock Richard services on the M6 in Lancashire 31 years ago. Doyle was one of two marines in a bus with 28 sailors being taken to Barry, south Wales to sail the minesweeper HMS Dovey to Glasgow as Mr Lucas’ group was short of crew.
Just as prosecutors described in the Liverpool incident, Doyle “lost his temper” and his flying kick left two sailors stricken on the ground. He then bit Mr Lucas, who remains disfigured from the attack.
Doyle, then 23, was later jailed for 12 months over the incident. Mr Lucas, a Masters student at Strathclyde University at the time, testified at Preston Crown Court, reports the Daily Mail.
Mr Lucas, now 68 and a retired teacher, told the publication: “It was exceptional I guess; you have two guys on the bus with 28 navy guys and they shouldn’t have been trying to take over or cause trouble. It was most strange and I couldn’t believe it. It was all a bit crazy the way it happened.
“I controlled him till he bit my ear off. He just floored the two of them. He was a pretty fit guy. I think when I came out he didn’t see me, I was just a wee one and therefore I could just walk round the back of him while he was focussed on the other two and put the bear hug on him.”
Dad-of-one Mr Lucas served in the Royal Navy for 12 years, reaching the rate of leading radio operator before joining the Royal Naval Reserve, which was when the incident in 1994 happened. The pensioner, who lives in East Lothian, turned down the chance of having his ear rebuilt, as it would have taken months.
“Speaking of the Liverpool attack, there’s your link. Everyone at the parade was all happy and he was the one that was unhappy. And in our little scenario everyone was happy, we were going to earn some money, have a drink going down to do what we do at weekends and then all hell broke loose. And that has never happened before, or since.”
