The police officer in charge of the investigation into the attack which left Simon Dobbin with brain damage, has called the thirteen men convicted "a pack of animals".

Earlier today, eight of those men were found guilty of violent disorder, alongside one man who had already pleaded guilty to the charge. Three men were found guilty of conspiracy to commit violent disorder, with one man found guilty of hiding the group.

Det Ch Insp Martin Passmore, from Essex Police, said the group "were not football fans".

"I think they're hooligans," he said.

"These are individuals that are mainly spending their time in pubs and drinking and looking for the opportunity to have fights with other so-called football fans/hooligans.

"I haven't seen any remorse in this case at all.

Image source, Nicole Dobbin

"Whether some of them might have great regrets about what happened that night there's some indication perhaps from some of the telephone work that we've done that would indicate that, but you could also say that that's fear. That's fear of conviction. That's fear of being caught."

If it hadn't been down to thorough police work, the convicted men "would have been running off laughing," he said.

"They knew that an individual was going to be taken away into hospital and there was some concern also from some of them of how serious this actually was, and yet they can still send text messages about 'how proud I am' and 'how proud we are of what we've done' - it's just unbelievable."

An insurance and financial call centre company has gone into administration, resulting in the loss of 134 jobs in Ipswich.

Image source, Google

Call Connection, external, which has offices on Cromwell Square in the town centre, has appointed BDO as the administrator.

The company, which provides call centre services for other firms, has ceased to trade, but will operate with a "skeleton staff" as the office is wound down.

Martha Thompson, business restructuring partner at BDO, said: "Unfortunately, the company experienced recent financial difficulties which put a significant strain on its working capital position.

"The directors endeavoured to secure a sale of the business as a going concern but, regrettably, a purchaser has not been found, leaving no other option but to place the company into administration and to cease to trade the business.

"The joint administrators are taking all necessary steps to maximise recoveries for the benefit of all creditors."

The company also has an office in the City of London.

The owner of a call centre in Ipswich has gone into administration with the loss of 134 jobs in the town.

More details to follow...

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

Since the verdict has come in to the attack on Cambridge United fan Simon Dobbin, which found 13 men guilty of various offences, his name has been trending on Twitter across the United Kingdom.

Image source, Twitter

The wife of Simon Dobbin has been reacting to the news that all 13 men charged with the football hooliganism that left her husband brain-damaged have been convicted of either violent disorder, conspiracy to commit violent disorder or assisting offenders.

Image source, Family Photo

Nicole Dobbin said it has been "heartbreaking" watching CCTV footage shown to the court of her husband dancing and singing in the background because he will never be able to do that again.

"Simon was always the life and soul of a party, he was very family orientated, we did everything together, the only times we didn't socialise is when he was at a football match or we were at work, otherwise we were always together. We don't have that anymore and we will never get that back."

Mrs Dobbin said her husband is aware of his friends and family, almost as if he is "trapped" in his body.

However, he cannot walk or talk and is fed through a tube.

He is linked to a suction machine, so he does not choke himself to death.

"I don't know how I've stayed strong," said Mrs Dobbin.

"There have been times when I lay in bed and think about the man I've lost, and the plans we had for the future will never happen, but hopefully we'll be able to make new plans."

She urged those who go to football matches to "cause trouble", to think twice.

"In my eyes, I'm lucky I've still got Simon, obviously not the way he is, we're not lucky about that, but the next person, one punch can kill," she said.

Thirteen men have been convicted over an attack on Simon Dobbin, a Cambridge United fan from Mildenhall, in Suffolk.

The men, who are all Southend United fans, were found guilty of various charges in relation to the attack, which happened in Southend in March 2015 following a football match.

Eight men were found guilty of violent disorder, alongside Rhys Pullen, 21, of Wickford, who had already admitted the charge:

• Ryan Carter, 21, of York Road, Southend
• Jamie Chambers, 24, of Coleman Street, Southend
• Lewis Courtnell, 34, of Stadium Road, Southend
• Scott Nicholls, 40, of Little Spenders, Basildon
• Matthew Petchey, 26, of Lascelles Gardens, Rochford
• Thomas Randall, 22, of Seaforth Avenue, Southend
• Alexander Woods, 25, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff
• James Woods, 25, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff

Three men were found guilty of conspiracy to commit violent disorder:

• Greg Allen, 29, of Western Avenue, Westcliff
• Phil McGill, 32, of Hornby Avenue, Westcliff
• Michael Shawyer, 31, of Belgrave Road, Leigh-on-Sea

Ian Young, 41, of Brightwell Avenue, Westcliff was found guilty of assisting an offender by hiding the group while police were conducting a search.

All thirteen have been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on Monday, which will take place at Basildon Crown Court.

Mr Dobbin was not in attendance today but will be for the sentencing, the court heard.

The 44-year-old was left unable to walk or talk after the attack.

Thirteen men have been convicted over an attack on a Cambridge United fan who was left unable to walk or talk after being assaulted.

Eight men were found guilty of violent disorder following a trial at Basildon Crown Court, with one other man admitting the charge earlier.

More to follow.

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

Remember the brand spanking new boat making its way through Cambridge yesterday?

It's on the move again, as it heads to Ipswich for sea trials.

The vessel began its journey in Oundle, Northamptonshire, yesterday, travelling through Cambridge city centre.

But not on the A14, as you may expect, as the load is too big for the trunk road's bridges.

It's pictured here close to Needham Market in Suffolk earlier this morning...

A specialist team has been on hand to remove traffic lights and railings along the route so it can fit through.

The 65ft (20m) boat, escorted by police along the way, was kept in a layby near Cambridge overnight.

A man, in his 20s, has been killed while walking on the A14 in Bury St Edmunds.

Police were called at 02:40 to reports that a blue Peugeot 306 had hit a pedestrian on the westbound carriageway between junctions 43 (sugar factory) and 42 (Westley/Newmarket Road junction)

The road reopened at about 07:15 and officers are appealing for witnesses and dash-cam footage.

The pedestrian died at the scene. The driver of the car was unharmed.

Richard Haugh
BBC Introducing in Suffolk

One change at the Latitude Festival, external this year is that the previously separate poetry and literary tents have been combined to create the Speakeasy.

It has become a sit-in style bar, but, sadly, the tent is no bigger than the literary stage last year. This means for big acts like Tim Key last night it was tricky to get in..

Image source, Jon Wright

Meanwhile, Chelmondiston's Bessie Turner, who is one of BBC Introducing in Suffolk's picks to play on the Lake Stage this weekend, has arrived and is getting ready to open proceedings at 13:00.

You can catch a sneak video preview of her here when she performed at a media event at the site earlier in the summer.

A jury at Basildon Crown Court has been told a majority verdict will be accepted rather than a unanimous verdict in the trial of 13 men accused of conspiring to commit violent disorder.

The group of Southend United fans were charged over an attack on Cambridge United fan Simon Dobbin, who was left unable to walk or talk after being assaulted in Southend in 2015.

Judge Pugh said he would accept a majority verdict from the jury if at least 10 of its members were in agreement. The jury has been deliberating for 17 hours.

Suffolk Police are confirming shots appear to have been fired at Cardinal Park in Ipswich town centre.

Officers were contacted at about 03:00 after people reported the incident at the leisure park, which features bars, a gym and the town's multiplex cinema.

Investigators took witness statements and found "several shell cases" outside one of the units.

A police spokesman said: "It is not thought to have been live ammunition and no-one was injured.

"It is thought one man fired the blanks and police are investigating exactly what happened, however at this stage it’s thought it may have been a dispute between several individuals."

The area has been cordoned-off.

Police have arrested a 21-year-old man from the town on suspicion of criminal damage after a vehicle was found with its windows smashed and they believe it is linked to the shooting.

He remains in police custody while officers try and find other people who may have been involved.

Suffolk Police are investigating reports that shots were fired early this morning at Cardinal Park in Ipswich.

More detail when we get it....

Jurors have returned to Basildon Crown Court to resume their deliberations in the trial of 13 men who deny violence charges in connection with football hooliganism offences.

It follows the attack on Simon Dobbin, a Cambridge United fan from Mildenhall, who was left brain-damaged after the incident in Southend following a match at Roots Hall in March 2015.

Jurors have to consider 24 verdicts on charges of either violent disorder or conspiracy to commit violent disorder.

They've been out since Monday afternoon.

Image source, Family photo

Portsmouth sign Ipswich Town striker Brett Pitman on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

Here's a run-down of when BBC Radio Suffolk will be broadcasting live from the Latitude Festival near Southwold:

• Friday 13:00-16:00Thordis Fridriksson (standing in for regular presenter Lesley Dolphin)
• Saturday 12:00-16:00BBC Introducing in Suffolk with Graeme Mac and Richard Haugh
• Sunday 12:00-15:00Stephen Foster

And there will be regular reports throughout the weekend on other programmes.

You can listen live here, and catch up with all programmes later on the BBC iPlayer - using the handy links to each programme above.

Image source, Mike Page Aerial Photography

BBC Introducing in Suffolk presenter Richard Haugh arrived at Latitude yesterday and said there were "unprecedented long queues to get into the campsite".

He added: "I think they've upped security a lot" and sent us this picture:

The Latitide Festival website, external confirms "you will probably notice more security this year, please do not be alarmed, this is for your safety and security" and advises that people will not be able to take large bags (anything over A4 size) from the campsites to the festival arenas area.

East Anglian Daily Times

The front page of the Suffolk edition reports: "Footballer Henry, 16, suffers double ankle break - but is told ambulance would take five hours".

A man, 58, who was arrested after the death of a woman in Felixstowe, has been released under investigation by Suffolk Police.

The woman was found critically ill on the floor of her home at Leeward Court near the town's railway station on Wednesday.

Police said she had been there for "some time" and the man was arrested.

The woman, who was in her 40s, died in hospital on Thursday afternoon and a post-mortem examination is due to take place today.

A police cordon remained in place around the address while inquiries continued.

Image source, Google

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport