A drunk driver who ploughed his car into a crowd of people outside a pub on Father's Day, fracturing a man's leg, has been jailed for 35 months. Liam Naylor, 31, of Fairclough Road in Huyton, was more than double the legal alcohol limit when he drove his vehicle into customers outside the Queens Arms pub on June 15 last year.
Incident Unfolds After Dispute
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Naylor had been involved in a disagreement inside the pub around 5.15pm. The parties appeared to resolve things by shaking hands, but the conflict escalated outside. Naylor got into his car and shouted, "Who the f*** do you think you're looking at? Do you know who I am?" before driving forward, reversing, and then ploughing into the crowd. Mobile phone footage showed a man being knocked down as a woman cried out, "You soft c***." Another man vaulted over railings to avoid being struck.
Victim's Life Altered
The victim, John Amore, 61, had been trying to stop Naylor from driving away because he was plainly unfit to do so. He sustained fractures to his tibia and fibula, requiring a nine-hour operation and a skin graft. He spent nine days in hospital and was unable to work for nine months. In a statement read to the court, Mr Amore said, "Father's Day will never be the same for our family again. As a result of this small man wanting to fight the world, my life has been altered for the rest of my life." He described waking up sweating every night reliving the incident.
Naylor's Background and Sentence
Naylor was arrested at his home, where he was unsteady on his feet. A breath test registered 84 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, more than double the legal limit of 35 micrograms. He later refused to provide a blood sample, citing a needle phobia. His only prior conviction was a community order for battery and criminal damage in 2015. Defence barrister Callum Ross said the offence was out of character and that Naylor was a hard-working plumber who lived with his partner and two children. Recorder Anna Pope KC noted that Naylor used his car as a weapon and acted in temper and anger. She sentenced him to 35 months in prison and disqualified him from driving for 47 months, requiring an extended retest.
Police Reaction
Detective Inspector Steve Wilkinson of Merseyside Police said, "This case highlights the dangers of drink driving and that this kind of reckless behaviour can put several lives at risk. After the incident, Naylor drove away from the pub, which is also illegal and incredibly irresponsible. I hope Naylor reflects on this incident and fully understands the impact his actions have had."
