Simon Dobbin: Bail for 11 men charged with manslaughter of Cambridge United fan

  • Russell Hookey reports from Colchester Magistrates' Court where 11 men appeared charged with the manslaughter of Simon Dobbin

Eleven men have been given unconditional bail after being charged with the manslaughter of a football fan who was left with permanent brain damage following an attack on his way home from a game.

Cambridge United fan Simon Dobbin was assaulted outside the Railway Tavern pub in Southend, Essex, in March 2015 after watching his team play Southend United.

He died five years later.

During a hearing at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 11 men - aged from 29 to 49 years old and all from Essex- appeared. The men in the dock, sat side-by-side, were:

  • Greg Allen, 37, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex

  • Jamie Chambers, 33, of Southend-on-Sea, Essex

  • Lewis Courtnell, 43, of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

  • Philip McGill, 41, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex

  • Scott Nicholls, 49, of Basildon, Essex

  • Matthew Petchey, 35, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex

  • Rhys Pullen, 29, of Maldon, Essex

  • Thomas Randall, 31, of Leigh-on-Sea

  • Michael Shawyer, 40, of Leigh-on-Sea

  • Alexander Woods, 34, of Westcliff-on-Sea

  • James Woods, 34, of Westcliff-on-Sea

Simon Dobbin with his daughter Emily and wife Nicole before the attack. Credit: Family photo

Deputy district judge Natalie Plant released each defendant on unconditional bail ahead of their pre-trial and preparation hearing at Basildon Crown Court on May 1.

A twelfth man: Ryan Carter, 40, appeared later via videolink and was remanded in custody until the same pre-trial preparation hearing as his 11 co-defendants.

Mr Dobbin required round-the-clock care from his family after the incident, right up until his death at the age of 48 in October 2020.

Before the attack, former RAF serviceman Mr Dobbin, who lived in Mildenhall, Suffolk, was working as a transport manager for a fuel company.

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