Eleven men, aged between 29 and 49, have appeared in court charged with manslaughter in connection with Simon Dobbin's death, according to major media reports. A twelfth man, Ryan Carter, 40, will appear in court separately on a manslaughter charge. The men were charged with manslaughter on October 21, 2020, the day Simon Dobbin died.
The legal proceedings stem from an incident in March 2015, when Simon Dobbin, a 48-year-old father of three, was attacked after watching a football match between Cambridge United and Southend United. Dobbin was part of a group of Cambridge United supporters, and the attack left him with permanent brain damage after lasting 90 seconds. During the assault, he was allegedly kicked and stamped on repeatedly, according to court hearing accounts.
I lost my gentle giant, words cannot express the loss I’m feeling. I’m thankful for the fantastic memories I have, he fought so very hard to be with his family. Sadly his heart wasn’t strong enough, but he is now at peace and will be forever in my heart.
Simon Dobbin died in 2020, five years after the attack. On March 31, 11 of the men appeared at Colchester Magistrates Court and were granted unconditional bail ahead of a further hearing at Basildon Crown Court on May 1. The defendants are Greg Allen, 37, Jamie Chambers, 33, Louise Courtnell, 43, Philip McGill, 40, Scott Nicholls, 49, Matthew Petchey, 35, Rhys Pullen, 29, Thomas Randall, 31, Michael Shawyer, 40, Alexander Woods, 33, and James Woods, 33.
Dobbin's case gained public attention when he appeared on the BBC renovation show DIY SOS in 2017, two years after the incident, where the team helped adapt his home to his needs. According to Daily Express - Showbiz, Nicola Dobbin described her husband as a gentle giant who fought hard to be with his family, expressing gratitude for memories while noting his heart was not strong enough, and she said he is now at peace. The attack occurred following a football match, highlighting ongoing concerns about fan violence in sports events.
The manslaughter charges mark a significant development in a case that has drawn widespread media coverage and public sympathy over the years.