Five arrested on suspicion of murder of football fan Simon Dobbin
He was attacked in Southend in 2015 and died five years later
Last updated 10th Jun 2022
Five men have been arrested on suspicion of murder in Essex in connection with a long-running investigation into the death of football fan Simon Dobbin.
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.
Police then began to treat the investigation as a homicide.
As part of an co-ordinated operation, five men were arrested this morning on suspicion of murder.
A number of people are being treated as witnesses and are also being interviewed today.
Stephen Jennings, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, is leading our investigation into Simon’s death.
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.”
In total 13 people were convicted and sentenced in connection with the incident in March 2015, during which Simon sustained life-changing injuries.