Richard Evan Rhys Williams, known as Evan Williams, a champion horse trainer, has been jailed for three years for attacking a pensioner, Martin Dandridge, who was walking a dog on his land, according to major media reports. Recorder Angharad Price sentenced Williams to three years in prison, stating it was an appalling offence and that Williams attacked Mr Dandridge causing serious injuries. The assault occurred on the evening of December 4, 2024, on Williams' land at Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales.
Evan Williams repeatedly struck Martin Dandridge with a hockey stick during the assault, according to major media reports. According to www.bbc.com, William Bebb described that Dandridge saw a man get out of a vehicle carrying a weapon which was a hockey stick. Williams rained down blows from the hockey stick on Dandridge, hitting him several times on the chest, leg, arm, and face, according to Prosecutor William Bebb.
This was a deliberate attack with a hockey stick.
Martin Dandridge, from Swindon, Wiltshire, suffered injuries including a fractured arm in the attack. Mr Dandridge and his wife were staying at a holiday cottage near Williams' training centre to be close to their daughter in Cardiff who had recently given birth to their grandchild. Dandridge was taken to Princess of Wales Hospital, where an X-ray revealed two fractured bones in his arm, according to research.
Evan Williams denied a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent but was convicted by a unanimous jury at Cardiff Crown Court, according to major media reports. Williams denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent and an alternative charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Martin Dandridge, according to court research. Cardiff Crown Court heard Williams intended to cause severe harm to Dandridge, according to court research.
It was a dark night around 9:30pm, and Dandridge was using a head torch with the dog also having a light on its collar.
The judge told Williams he had a choice to confront Mr Dandridge himself or wait for nearby police to attend. The judge described an incident six weeks before the assault where Williams disturbed poachers on his land and was threatened with a shotgun. Recorder Angharad Price emphasized the severity of the attack in her sentencing remarks.
Williams' family spotted the lights on their land and believed Mr Dandridge was lamping, according to major media reports. There had previously been incidents of fly-grazing, hare coursing, and poaching on the land, according to major media reports. Dandridge was trying to explain he was staying in a holiday cottage, but this did not register with Williams, according to prosecution research.
They are lamping in my field and we're going to challenge them.
Williams said the injuries Dandridge sustained were caused when his dog pulled him into a drainage ditch with a drop of 3ft (1m), according to court research. Williams denied having a hockey stick and said he was carrying a rope, which he used to guide horses and was planning on using on the dog if it was loose, according to court research. Dandridge denied a suggestion by Williams' defence lawyer that he broke his arm falling into a ditch, according to court research.
Two policemen were nearby monitoring rural crime such as lamping and poaching that night, according to research. The police followed Williams, according to Prosecutor William Bebb. The exact circumstances and outcome of the incident six weeks prior where Williams was threatened with a shotgun by poachers remain unclear, as does how the police who were nearby responded during and immediately after the assault on December 4, 2024.
What are you doing in my field with a lamp and a dog?
What specific evidence, such as forensic or witness testimony, led the jury to convict Evan Williams of causing grievous bodily harm with intent has not been detailed publicly. Dandridge and his wife had been staying at the Gallops holiday cottage for three weeks before the attack, which happened three days before his 71st birthday, according to research. After being arrested and interviewed by police the next day, Williams denied assaulting Dandridge with a hockey stick, according to court research.
Connor Ring, a jockey and Williams' daughter's partner, was present and tried to move Williams away, according to court research. His intervention occurred during the violent confrontation on the dark evening.
I request an adjournment for a pre-sentence report and time for Williams to arrange his business affairs.
Evan Williams has ceased being a licensed trainer following his conviction for assaulting a dog walker, according to major media reports. Williams was due to be represented by Libberty Hunter in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday, but his wife Cath will be the official trainer, according to major media reports. Williams' court appearance has been monitored by the BHA, and alternative arrangements have been made with his wife Cath Williams becoming the licence holder responsible for the yard's horses and staff, according to major media reports.
A BHA spokesperson stated that by mutual agreement, Evan Williams has ceased being a licensed trainer, with Cath Williams becoming the licence holder. Evan Williams is not disqualified and is permitted to be at the yard, according to major media reports. The impact of Williams' imprisonment on the long-term operations and reputation of his horse racing business is uncertain.
Sentencing was adjourned until April 14 for reports and to give Williams time to put in place alternative arrangements for his racing business should he be jailed, according to major media reports. According to Daily Mirror - Main, David Elias KC described requesting an adjournment for a pre-sentence report and time for Williams to arrange his business affairs. This allowed for logistical preparations ahead of the prison term.
The current condition and recovery status of Martin Dandridge following the attack are not publicly known. Richard Evan Rhys Williams (Evan Williams) is a Grand National horse trainer, according to research. Dandridge had been walking his daughter's dog at the time of the incident, according to research. As Dandridge walked near the paddock and gallops of Evan Williams Racing, their lights drew Williams' attention, according to Prosecutor William Bebb. According to www.bbc.com, William Bebb described that it was a dark night around 9:30pm, and Dandridge was using a head torch with the dog also having a light on its collar. According to www.bbc.com, Evan Williams described asking, 'What are you doing in my field with a lamp and a dog?' and stating, 'They are lamping in my field and we're going to challenge them.'