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

Evan Williams, a renowned horse trainer, has been sentenced to a three-year prison term for his role in a violent assault on a dog walker who had entered his property. The incident, which occurred on December 4, 2024, involved Williams striking 72-year-old Martin Dandridge multiple times with a hockey stick. Dandridge suffered significant injuries, including a fractured arm, as a result of the attack. Williams, 55, had denied the charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent but was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court. During the sentencing, Recorder Angharad Price condemned Williams' actions, stating that he had made a choice to confront Dandridge instead of waiting for the police to arrive. The judge emphasized that while Williams had a right to protect his family and property, including his champion racehorses, this protection should not come at the expense of others. The sentencing comes after Williams had a previous encounter with poachers on his land, where he was threatened with a shotgun. The judge made it clear that taking the law into one's own hands is never acceptable and that calling the police is always the better course of action. Williams, known for his multiple Grade One wins, including successes at the Cheltenham Festival, will now serve a three-year prison sentence.