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A dad-of-three who featured on BBC renovation show DIY SOS was allegedly "kicked like a football" by 12 men and subsequently died of his injuries, a court has heard. 48-year-old Simon Dobbin was attacked after watching a match between Cambridge United and Southend United in March 2015, and left with permanent brain damage after the 90-second attack.

He was unable to walk or talk afterwards, and sadly died five years later in 2020. 11 men, aged between 29 and 49, have now appeared in court charged with manslaughter. The defendants are: Greg Allen, 37, Jamie Chambers, 33, Louise Courtnell, 43, Philip McGill, 40, Scott Nicholls, 49, Matthew Petchey, 35, Rhys Pullen, 29, Thomas Randall, 31, Michael Shawyer, 40, Alexander Woods, 33 and James Woods, 33.

A twelfth man, 40-year-old Ryan Carter, will appear in front of magistrates at a separate hearing today, also on a charge of manslaughter.

The men were charged with manslaughter on the day Simon died, October 21st 2020. At Colchester Magistrates Court today (March 31), 11 of the men sat side-by-side in the dock.

Each man was granted unconditional bail ahead of a further hearing at Basildon Crown Court on May 1.

Simon, who was "kicked and stamped on repeatedly", was part of a group of Cambridge United supporters. He left behind his wife Nicola and three children.

In 2017, two years after the incident, Simon appeared on DIY SOS, where the team helped to adapt his home to his needs.

His wife said when he died: "I lost my gentle giant, words cannot express the loss I'm feeling. I'm thankful for the fantastic memories I have, he fought so very hard to be with his family.

"Sadly his heart wasn't strong enough, but he is now at peace and will be forever in my heart."