Bail for 11 men charged over death of football fan

Eleven men have been given unconditional bail after being charged with the manslaughter of football fan Simon Dobbin.

Dobbin was attacked outside the Railway Tavern in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in March 2015, following a match between Cambridge United and Southend United.

The dad from Mildenhall, Suffolk, was left permanently brain-damaged due to the incident and died in October 2020, aged 48.

During a hearing at Colchester Magistrates' Court, deputy district judge Natalie Plant said: "For each and every one of you, you are under unconditional bail until 1 May."

Another man, who is in custody, appeared at the same court via video link.

Eleven men appeared in court:

• Greg Allen, 37, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
• Jamie Chambers, 33, of Southend-on-Sea, Essex
• Lewis Courtnell, 43, of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
• Philip McGill, 41, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
• Scott Nicholls, 49, of Basildon, Essex
• Matthew Petchey, 35, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
• Rhys Pullen, 29, of Maldon, Essex
• Thomas Randall, 31, of Leigh-on-Sea
• Michael Shawyer, 40, of Leigh-on-Sea
• Alexander Woods, 34, of Westcliff-on-Sea
• James Woods, 34, of Nawton, North Yorkshire

Another man, Ryan Carter, 40, appeared later via a video link from HMP The Mount and was remanded in custody until the same pre-trial preparation hearing as his 11 co-defendants.

The next hearing will take place at Basildon Crown Court on 1 May.

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