Five men arrested in connection with Simon Dobbin murder released under investigation

Simon was attacked in Southend in 2015 and died five years later

Simon was left with permanent brain damage after being assaulted in East Street, Southend on 21 March 2015.
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 24th Jun 2022
Last updated 24th Jun 2022

Five men arrested on suspicion of the murder of Suffolk football fan Simon Dobbin in Essex in 2015 have been released under investigation.

Simon was left with permanent brain damage after being attacked in Station Approach in Southend in March 2015 following a Southend United v Cambridge United match.

He died five years later at the age of 48 at home in Mildenhall, Suffolk.

Medical tests have shown there was a direct link between his death and the injuries he had sustained.

Five men were arrested earlier this month (June 13) on suspicion of his murder.

The suspects, aged 30, 34, 39, 45 and 27, have all now been released under investigation.

Stephen Jennings, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, is leading the investigation into Simon’s death.

Police at the scene of the assault in Southend in 2015

He said: “Investigations into Simon’s death showed a direct, causal link to the injuries he sustained in Southend on the day he was attacked in March 2015.“As a result of those findings, we began treating Simon’s death as a homicide and a new investigation was launched.

“As part of that investigation, this morning we have arrested five people on suspicion of murder.“We are also speaking to a number of people who we are considering as witnesses in order to gather their accounts.

“Simon’s wife, Nicole, and their daughter Emily have been kept updated on our progress every step of the way.“Simon was a completely innocent party in the disorder that took place that day and his family have been through an unimaginable time.

“The injuries Simon sustained that day did not just change his life, they also changed the lives of Nicole and Emily. As a team, we will do everything we possibly can to secure justice for Nicole, Emily and Simon’s wider family and friends.”

13 people have already been convicted and sentenced in connection with the incident in March 2015, during which Simon sustained life-changing injuries.

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