Nicole Dobbin wants government to introduce Simon's Law

The wife of a Cambridge United fan left disabled after suffering an attack at a football game is campaigning to make the law tougher for violent disorder offenders.

Nicole Dobbin, 46, from Mildenhall, has launched a petition aimed at getting the government to introduce ‘Simon’s Law’ after her husband was left paralysed from the neck down, unable to walk or talk, three years ago.

Simon Dobbin was left with permanent brain damage after being set upon by a gang of football thugs while attending an away match in March 2015.

His attackers were charged with violent disorder, which carried a maximum sentence of five years in prison, instead of a charge of causing grievous bodily harm or attempted murder.

Mrs Dobbin explained on her petition page: “My husband Simon, was attacked by thugs on March 21, 2015. This was an unprovoked attack that lasted 90 seconds. He was stomped on repeatedly and suffered a cardiac arrest, it took paramedics seven minutes to restart his heart.

“Simon now has hypoxic brain damage, he is unable to walk, talk or move independently, he is fed via a tube, he has a tracheostomy and needs round the clock care.

“Twelve men were charged and sentenced to prison for a violent public disorder, this sentence carries a maximum time of five years but Simon has a life sentence. How can someone be clinically dead for seven minutes and this be a violent public disorder? The law needs to changed around these cases and a higher sentence given.

“I want the government to put Simon’s Law into place. Simon’s law will state that If an individual is charged and found guilty of a violent public disorder, causing harm to any other, then a percentage of earnings through employment or benefits, are taken from them and paid back to our NHS for the rest of their lives.

“Hopefully this will be a deterrent and these crimes are drastically reduced, I’d hate to guess, but I’m sure it ran into hundreds and thousands of pounds to keep Simon alive and well enough for him to return home a year later.

A total of 13 men were found guilty. Nine were convicted of violent disorder, three of conspiracy to commit violent disorder, and a 13th man found guilty of assisting an offender.

Since starting it on August 21, the petition had gained almost 5,000 signatures.

You can sign Nicole’s petition at https://www.change.org/p/houses-of-parliament-simon-s-law

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