‘We want justice’ says widow of Simon Dobbin after progress in police investigation

The widow of Simon Dobbin has said she wants closure and justice for her husband following a major step forward in the police investigation into his death.

Cambridge United fan Simon died aged 48 in 2020, five years after he was left permanently brain damaged in an attack by a gang of football hooligans in Southend.

Medical tests in the wake of Simon’s death showed there was a direct link with the injuries he suffered, leading Essex Police to treat it as a murder.

The Cambridge Independent reported last week that Essex Police had presented a file to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration in relation to Simon’s death and four men who were arrested remain under investigation.

Nicole Dobbin, Simon’s widow, said the family were given “a life sentence” when he died and wanted his attackers “to pay for what they did”.

However, she feared the process “would never end”.

“I know the police have done their very best, but it’s disheartening that we’ve had to wait so long,” she said.

“As a family, we just want it to end – I want justice for Simon. They should be held accountable.”

Nicole said, since Simon’s death, her daughter has had a baby, who is now 13 months old, and he is told about his grandfather often, whom he calls ‘Dandad’.

Simon would have adored him, she said.

Simon was left needing 24-hour care and unable to walk or talk after the 90-second attack by football hooligans following a Cambridge United match in Southend on March 21, 2015. He died in his sleep on October 21, 2020.

Nicole said Simon’s death was something her and her family would never get over.

She highlighted the “great” support of Cambridge United, which has a couple of benches around the ground dedicated to his memory.

It will also be holding a match in the new year to mark 10 years since the attack.

The club’s reverend, who officiated Simon’s funeral service, is in regular contact with the family.

She said: “Simon was the love of my life. We were best friends – I’ve lost him and I won’t get that back. Simon had to suffer in the body he was in for five and a half years; they’ve (the attackers) been allowed to live their lives while I’ve had to wait for this call from the police to say it’s gone to the CPS.

“We need them to pay for what they did. There’s no deterrent out there against this type of violence, they need to be made an example of. We’ve got a life sentence for this, our lives were completely destroyed because of what they did.”

Following the attack, 12 men were jailed for violent disorder offences, with sentences ranging from 16 months to five years, and another man received a suspended sentence.