Simon Dobbin RIP

[Herts Clarets]

Sadly the Cambridge United fan who was attacked and left brain damaged after a game at Southend has passed away 5 years after the attack. A tragic end to a sad situation. RIP Simon.

BBC News - Simon Dobbin: Football fan dies five years after hooligan attack
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-54633785

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

RIP Simon. Terrible outcome to a dreadful incident.

[Stevie2112]

Terrible for someone to lose their life over a game of football. RIP

[bobinho]

Agreed Stevie. RIP, Simon.

[Dark Cloud]

It's very, very sad and I read up on the details of his case after seeing the DIY SOS programme featuring him a while back. He was a dedicated footy fan and devoted family man, doing what so many of us love to do. Meeting his friends and following his (far from glamorous) team all over the place with a real passion. What happened to him was absolutely dreadful.

[FactualFrank]

It's very, very sad and I read up on the details of his case after seeing the DIY SOS programme featuring him a while back. He was a dedicated footy fan and devoted family man, doing what so many of us love to do. Meeting his friends and following his (far from glamorous) team all over the place with a real passion. What happened to him was absolutely dreadful.

Did they find out who did it, and what provoked it?

[Herts Clarets]

Did they find out who did it, and what provoked it?

12 men were convicted for the attack but I suspect that given the outcome, further charges may follow. What provoked it? He supported a different football team.....

[DCWat]

And yet all of those responsible are most probably free and walking the streets, unless they’ve been banged up for another crime they’ve committed.

[Dark Cloud]

Did they find out who did it, and what provoked it?

Yes, there's plenty online about it. But essentially 12? Southend "fans" were convicted over it in the end and it seems those sentences may be reviewed now in the light of this awful news. They were a young bunch of "wanna bes" who had spent several months trying to terrorise visiting supporters or even going to away matches looking for trouble. Simon Dobbin and his friends were basically in the wrong pub having a post match drink, (we've all been there) wearing their Cambridge shirts as always, mixing with locals and assuming that everyone was friendly when....

[mdd2]

Pulled from the BBC at the time of the case

Eight men were found guilty of violent disorder, while Rhys Pullen admitted the charge. They were sentenced to the following:

Five years for Ryan Carter, 21, of York Road, Southend
Four years for Jamie Chambers, 24, of Coleman Street, Southend
Three-and-a-half years for Lewis Courtnell, 34, of Stadium Road, Southend
Three-and-a-half years for Scott Nicholls, 40, of Little Spenders, Basildon
Three-and-a-half years for Matthew Petchey, 26, of Lascelles Gardens, Rochford
Sixteen months for Rhys Pullen, 21, of Wickford
Five years for Thomas Randall, 22, of Seaforth Avenue, Southend
Five years for Alexander Woods, 25, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff
Three years for James Woods, 25, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff
Three men were jailed for conspiracy to commit violent disorder:

Three years for Greg Allen, 29, of Western Avenue, Westcliff
Three years for Phil McGill, 32, of Hornby Avenue, Westcliff
Two-and-half-years for Michael Shawyer, 31, of Belgrave Road, Leigh-on-Sea
All of the men were given a 10-year football banning order.

Ian Young, 41, of Brightwell Avenue, Westcliff was found guilty of assisting an offender by hiding the group while police were conducting a search. He will be sentenced next month.

So I guess the time spent for taking away a family's good life and Mr Dobbins qol and shortened life expectancy was with 50% remission 18 to 30 months.
It beggars belief that the Law permits such brutal crimes to dealt with so leniently. Apparently about 25 were involved in helping to beat him senseless

[Stevie2112]

It beggars belief that the Law permits such brutal crimes to dealt with so leniently. Apparently about 25 were involved in helping to beat him senseless
Top
It really does,have been on the end of this from some Newcastle Fans in the 80's,horrible to see it's still going on.The law needs changing to help protect such people .