Twelve in court accused of killing football fan after match
Simon Dobbin was left permanently brain damaged after being attacked in Southend
Twelve men have appeared in court charged with the manslaughter of a football fan in Southend.
Cambridge United fan Simon Dobbin was attacked in March 2015 after watching the US' against Southend United.
Simon was left permanently brain damaged by an attack on his way home from the match and died five years later.
The twelve men, all from Essex, appeared at Basildon Crown Court today (14/05/2026)
They are each charged with manslaughter on October 21 2020 – the date that Mr Dobbin died, aged 48.
The attack in 2015 happened outside the Railway Tavern Pub, near Prittlewell train station.
Simon's family provided him with 24-hour care at home in Mildenhall, Suffolk, until his death.
Former RAF serviceman Mr Dobbin was working as a transport manager for a fuel company before the attack.
The men involved are: Greg Allen, 37, of Westcliff-on-Sea; Jamie Chambers, 33, of Southend-on-Sea; Lewis Courtnell, 43, of Leigh-on-Sea; Philip McGill, 41, of Westcliff-on-Sea; Scott Nicholls, 49, of Basildon; Matthew Petchey, 35, of Westcliff-on-Sea; Rhys Pullen, 29, of Maldon; Thomas Randall, 31, of Leigh-on-Sea; Michael Shawyer, 40, of Leigh-on-Sea; Ryan Carter, 40, of HMP The Mount; plus Alexander Woods, 34, and James Woods, 34, who are both of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.