Evan Williams Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Assaulting a Dog Walker

Evan Williams, a 55-year-old horse trainer, has been sentenced to three years in prison for attacking a 72-year-old dog walker on his property in south Wales. The victim, Martin Dandridge, suffered a fractured arm and other injuries during the assault, which occurred on December 4, 2024. Williams was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court and was sentenced by Recorder Angharad Price. The judge described the offence as 'appalling' and stated that Williams had a choice to either confront the victim or wait for the police to arrive. Williams, a successful trainer with multiple Grade One wins, including at the Cheltenham Festival, claimed he was protecting his property and family, but the judge emphasized that this did not justify the attack. The incident occurred six weeks after Williams had a confrontation with poachers on his land, during which he was threatened with a shotgun. The judge warned Williams that it is never acceptable to take the law into his own hands and that the sentence should serve as a lesson to call the police if a crime is suspected.