Horse trainer Evan Williams has been sentenced to three years in prison. The conviction stems from an assault on a man walking a dog on Williams’ property.
The Attack
Richard Evan Rhys Williams, known as Evan Williams, 54, repeatedly struck Martin Dandridge with a hockey stick. The incident occurred in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan. Dandridge’s arm was broken during the night-time assault, which took place in December 2024.
Recorder Angharad Price described the attack as “an appalling offence.” A jury at Cardiff Crown Court found Williams guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Dandridge, 72, from Swindon, was staying at a holiday cottage near Williams’s racehorse training centre at the time. He was walking his cockerpoo, Gulliver, in a paddock that was part of the stables, using a torch because it was dark.
Williams’s Defence
Williams’s property had experienced issues with fly-grazing, hare coursing, and poaching. Williams’s family saw the lights and believed Dandridge was lamping – using bright lights to find animals, often with a dog.
The court heard Williams drove past two police officers on his way to the paddock, telling them about suspected lampers on his gallops.
Williams said he shouted at Dandridge to put out his light, concerned it would upset his horses. He claimed he wanted to control the dog and was trying to grab its extendable lead.
Williams maintained that Dandridge was injured after being pulled over by his dog on the rough terrain and falling into a drainage hole.
Prosecution’s Argument
William Bebb, prosecuting, called Williams’s account “nonsense”. He argued that Williams was filled with rage because of previous issues with lampers. Bebb stated that Williams intended to teach the lampers a lesson.
Dandridge said he 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. He stated Williams was holding the hockey stick in both hands. Dandridge said he was on his knees with the dog lead in one hand and thought he was going to die.
Dandridge described the attack as lasting 60 seconds, but said it felt much longer. Bebb read a victim statement from Dandridge, who said he was an independent and physically active person who enjoyed walking his dog before the attack.
The Sentence
Williams was in charge of 120 horses over two locations at the time of the offence.
Williams has now been sentenced to three years in prison.