THIRTEEN men accused of taking part in a disturbance that left a football fan with life-changing injuries are facing a new charge.

Cambridge United supporter Simon Dobbin, 44, was among a group of fans who were assaulted in East Street, Southend, at 7.15pm on March 21 last year.

Twelve men appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court early in September charged with a single count of violent disorder.

They appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Friday to enter a not guilty plea to the charge and to a separate charge of conspiracy to commit violent disorder.

They are:

  • Ryan Carter, 20, of York Road, Southend
  • Jamie Chambers, 22, of Coleman Street, Southend
  •  Lewis Courtnell, 33, of Stadium Road, Southend
  • Philip McGill, 31, of Hornby Avenue, Westcliff
  • Scott Nicholls, 40, of Sherwood Close, Langdon Hills
  • Michael Shawyer, 30, of Belgrave Road, Leigh
  • Greg Allen, 28, of Artillery Avenue, Shoebury
  • Thomas Randall, 21, of Seaforth Avenue, Southend
  • Alexander Woods, 24, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff
  • James Woods, 24, both of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff
  • Rhys Pullen, 20, of Bridge Road, Wickford
  • Matthew Petchey, 24, of Lascelles Gardens, Rochford

Another man, Ian Young, 40, of Brightwell Avenue, Westcliff, denied conspiracy to commit violent disorder, assisting an offender and possession of CS spray.

Echo:

Simon Dobbin suffered brain damage as a result of the incident

The entire group appeared together at Basildon Crown Court for the hour-long hearing, which included discussion of the type of evidence that will be heard.

Each man spoke only to confirm his name and enter a plea.

They were represented by a total of eight separate legal teams and the public gallery was full with friends and relatives.

A trial date was set for June 5 next year and it is expected to last six weeks.

Judge John Lodge told the court: “The trial will take place in this court room because it is the only one big enough in the area to accommodate the number of people.”

All of the men were released on bail except Petchey, who is in custody.

Judge Lodge told the men: “The trial will take place next year.

“There will be another hearing that you will have to come to before that. You will each have to provide a defence case statement.

“Thank you very much for your attendance this morning.”

Wife's agony as doctors say fan will never recover

SIMON Dobbin will never recover from his injuries, doctors have warned.

The 44-year-old, Cambridge United fan, from from Mildenhall in Suffolk, suffered serious head injuries during the incident after the match against Southend last year.

He spent more than a year in hospital and although he is now home his wife, Nicole, told the Echo he still cannot walk or talk. 

She said: "He will say a few words but nothing consistent. He can't use his hands, he can't feed himself.

"He's had a few stays in hospital with pneumonia because he's only got the use of 50 per cent of his lungs.

"He does get very, very frustrated because I think he's aware of what's going on but he can't express it.

"He ends up making himself sick.

"We are living with what happened to Simon day-to-day and you get a constant reminder of what's happened."

Despite extensive rehabilitation, Mrs Dobbin said doctors have now told her Simon will make no further recovery.