Widow of football fan who died 5 years after away match assault calls for murder charges

The widow of a football fan who died five years after an assault by 13 thugs left him with brain damage has called for his attackers to face murder charges.

Cambridge United supporter Simon Dobbin was set upon as he walked to the railway station following his team’s 0-0 away draw against Southend United on 21 March 2015.

Thirteen men were convicted in 2017 of their involvement in the attack, and 12 of them were handed jail terms totalling more than 42 years.

But his wife Nicole said that she now wants “justice” for the people responsible.

She told MailOnline: “I've had my soulmate taken away and they've lost nothing.

“Hopefully we will get the justice we deserve.

“I'd like to see them charged with murder and conspiracy to murder. They all knew what was going on.”

Essex coroner’s officer Jo Instrall said Mr Dobbin was assaulted and suffered “serious head injuries” and was left unable to walk or talk.

Instrall told a hearing in Chelmsford on Thursday that Mr Dobbin “died suddenly at home” in Mildenhall, Suffolk, five years later, on 21 October, 2020, at the age of 48.

His medical cause of death was recorded as “complications arising from hypoxic ischemic brain injury following an assault”, Instrall added.

Essex area coroner Sean Horstead formally opened the inquest into Mr Dobbin’s death and then suspended it “at the request of Essex Constabulary”.

He said the hearing will resume “at the conclusion of any contemplated criminal proceedings”.

Mr Dobbin previously had his home in Mildenhall, Suffolk, renovated on BBC show DIY SOS.

Speaking in 2017, his wife revealed that the team were building a separate room and wet room for Mr Dobbin so that he could have more privacy and comfort.

She said at the time: “It should be all ready in time for Christmas. A woman in the village has let us stay in her cottage while they do the build – it's incredible.”

Essex Police previously said a post-mortem examination indicated a “causal link” between the attack on Mr Dobbin and his subsequent death.

Detectives are now investigating to see whether they can “directly and evidentially show who was responsible for his death”.

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