Trainer Evan Williams Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Assaulting 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 who was on his land in south Wales. The incident occurred on December 4, 2024, when Williams repeatedly struck Martin Dandridge with a hockey stick, resulting in serious injuries, including a fractured arm. Despite denying the charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, Williams was convicted by a unanimous jury after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court. The judge, Recorder Angharad Price, condemned Williams' actions as 'appalling' and emphasized that he had a choice to either confront the dog walker himself or wait for the police to arrive. The court also heard that Williams had previously been threatened with a shotgun by poachers on his land six weeks before the assault. The judge stressed that it is never acceptable to take the law into one's own hands and that Williams should have called the police instead of resorting to violence. Williams, a successful trainer with multiple Grade One wins, including at the Cheltenham Festival, will now serve a three-year prison sentence.