Five held on suspicion of football fan murder

FIVE men have been arrested on suspicion of murder, two years after a father died after being attacked at a football match.

Simon Dobbin was left with brain damage after being assaulted in Southend, Essex, following a Southend United vs Cambridge United match in March 2015.

Five years later in October 2020, he died, aged 48, from injuries that had a “direct, causal link” to his death. Essex Police believe Mr Dobbin was hit and stamped upon in an attack that lasted 90 seconds, and he sustained brain injuries as a result.

The force said it began treating his death as a homicide after medical tests showed a link between his death and his injuries.

Yesterday, five men were arrested at addresses across south Essex, the force said.

They are in custody and being questioned on suspicion of murder.