A £20,000 reward has been issued by detectives looking to find the killers of football fan Simon Dobbin.

Mr Dobbin was left with permanent brain damage after being attacked in East Street, Southend, following Southend United's match against Cambridge United.

He died in October last year, with a post-mortem examination finding a causal link between his injuries and his death.

A total of 13 people have been convicted of the attack back in March 2015, but police have launched a homicide investigation – covering both murder and manslaughter – since Mr Dobbin’s death.

Essex Police has now teamed up with the Crimestoppers charity and is offering a £20,000 reward to anyone with information that can help detectives bring those responsible to justice.

Speaking at a press conference today where the £20,000 incentive was announced, Mr Dobbin’s wife, Nicole, revealed the heartache and pain her family has endured since the day he was attacked.

“To see such a strong personality, an independent man beaten to the point he was unable to take care of himself, to communicate his own needs and wishes and to miss out on life as a whole was devastating,” she said.

“As a family we had to come to terms with the fact he would never be the Simon we all knew and loved - we were just grateful to have some part of him.

“But being grateful for this also highlighted how selfish we were being.

"We could see the pain and suffering he was experiencing daily and the worst part was there was nothing we could do to take this away.”

Mrs Dobbin revealed that doctors were clear from the start that her husband’s life-expectancy was short after he woke from a coma after sustaining his injuries.

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She revealed she and daughter, Emily, were able to spend one final day with Mr Dobbin before he died on October 21.

She said: “As much as it pained us to say a final goodbye, we now had peace knowing he was no longer trapped inside his battered body with no escape.

“We have had five of the most horrendous years and have now grieved all over again.

“Whilst the individuals who planned and carried out this attack walk free, left to live their lives however they wish, without a second thought for any of us.

“Simon was 48-years-old with so much to look forward to.

“Now he won’t be able to grow old with me or watch his daughter get married or watch his grandchildren grow up.

“All these beautiful memories we could have made were stolen from us.”

She urged anyone with information about the attack on Mr Dobbin to come forward, adding: “We hope no other family will have to go through the heartache and loss we have.

“Therefore if anyone has any information relating to the attack on Simon, we ask you come forward.

“Any details, no matter how small, will aid in the ongoing investigation.”

Contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.