Evan Williams Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Assault on Dog Walker

A three-year prison sentence has been handed down to trainer Evan Williams for his role in a violent attack on a dog walker who had entered his property. The incident, which took place on December 4, 2024, at Williams' land in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales, left 72-year-old Martin Dandridge with serious injuries, including a fractured arm. Williams, 55, used a hockey stick to repeatedly strike Dandridge during the assault. Despite denying the charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, Williams was found guilty by a unanimous jury after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court in March. Recorder Angharad Price, in her sentencing remarks, described the offence as 'appalling' and emphasized that Williams had made a choice to confront Dandridge instead of waiting for the police to arrive. The judge also referenced an earlier incident where Williams had encountered poachers on his land and was threatened with a shotgun, but stressed that this did not justify taking the law into his own hands. Williams, a successful trainer with multiple Grade One wins, including at the Cheltenham Festival, will now serve a three-year prison term. His wife, Cath, has taken over his training licence following his conviction.