Trainer Jailed for Assault with Hockey Stick
A Grand National trainer has been sentenced to three years in prison after assaulting a man walking his dog on the trainer's land using a hockey stick.
Richard Evan Rhys Williams, known as Evan Williams, aged 54, repeatedly struck Martin Dandridge during a night-time attack in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan. The assault, which occurred in December 2024, resulted in Dandridge suffering a broken arm.
Recorder Angharad Price described the incident as "an appalling offence." In March, a jury at Cardiff Crown Court found Williams guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after deliberating for one hour and 45 minutes.
Martin Dandridge, 72, from Swindon, was staying at a holiday cottage near Williams's racehorse training centre. He had taken his cockerpoo, Gulliver, for a walk in a paddock that formed part of the stables. Due to darkness, he was using a torch.
Background and Incident Details
Williams's property had previously experienced issues including fly-grazing—where animals are left on land without permission—as well as hare coursing and poaching.
The court heard that Williams's family noticed lights on their land and suspected Dandridge was lamping, a practice involving the use of bright lights to locate animals such as rabbits and foxes, often accompanied by dogs.
Williams had passed two police officers en route to the paddock, informing them, "There's lampers on my gallops, they are there now." Upon arrival, he observed lights moving towards him and realized there was a person with a dog.
Williams approached Dandridge and told the jury he shouted at him to extinguish his light, concerned it might disturb his horses.
At the time, Williams was responsible for 120 horses across two locations. He explained, "The light would have been flickering in the stables and that can trigger horses." He also stated he intended to control the dog by attempting to grab its extendable lead.
Williams maintained that Dandridge was injured after being pulled over rough terrain by his dog and falling into a drainage hole.
However, prosecutor William Bebb challenged this account, calling it "nonsense." He told the court,
"You were filled with rage due to the nature of the background you had with lampers. Whether a broken bone or a wound, you wanted to teach those lampers a lesson."
Victim's Account and Impact
Dandridge informed the court that he and his wife had been staying at the Gallops holiday cottage for three weeks prior to the attack, which took place three days before his 71st birthday.
He described Williams as "holding the hockey stick in both hands." He recounted,
"I was on my knees with the dog lead in one hand. I thought 'I'm going to die here and there's nothing I can do'."
Dandridge estimated the assault lasted about 60 seconds but said it felt much longer.
Prosecutor William Bebb read a victim statement from Dandridge, which said,
"I was an independent and physically active person who enjoyed my hobbies. But since the attack I don't feel like the same person. I still have problems with my left arm and constant pain... is a constant reminder of the assault."
Defence and Sentencing
David Elias KC, representing Williams, argued that a prison sentence would affect not only Williams's immediate family but also employees, suppliers, and horse owners associated with his training business.
Mr Elias highlighted Williams's "exemplary character," noting that 570 character references had been submitted since his conviction.
Williams had taken over the family dairy farm at 18 before transitioning to racehorse training in 1996. He founded Evan Williams Racing in 2003 and became one of Wales's most successful trainers, achieving top-four finishes in five consecutive Grand Nationals at Aintree between 2009 and 2013. He trained Secret Reprieve, winner of the 2020 Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.
Williams's business employs approximately 30 people. Following his conviction, his wife assumed his racing licence a day later, coinciding with the start of the Cheltenham Festival, a major horse racing event. She secured a notable victory two days afterward with only her second runner since taking over the operation in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The court heard that Williams's wife's racing licence is set to expire at the end of the next month, and it would not be "viable" for her to continue running the business.
Mr Elias stated,
"Evan Williams is the business; he has the training knowledge and there is no one else to take over this business,"
which was described as the largest rural employer in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The court also considered Williams's mental health issues, which were linked to an earlier confrontation with poachers on his land six weeks before the assault. During that incident, Williams was threatened with a shotgun and warned that "they'd burn his house down."
Judge's Remarks and Sentence
Recorder Angharad Price acknowledged Williams's "heightened fear and vigilance" following the prior poaching incident.
However, she emphasized,
"This is an appalling offence. You had a choice that night, you could have waited and let the police deal with the situation but instead you urgently raced to the paddock to deal with it yourself. It is never acceptable to take the law into your own hands."
Williams was sentenced to three years in prison.
