Evan Williams, a renowned horse trainer, has been sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting a 72-year-old dog walker on his property. The incident, which occurred on December 4, 2024, left the victim, Martin Dandridge, with severe injuries, including a fractured arm. Williams, 55, used a hockey stick to repeatedly strike Dandridge during the altercation.
Despite denying the charges, Williams was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent by a unanimous jury after a 90-minute deliberation at Cardiff Crown Court. During the sentencing, Recorder Angharad Price condemned Williams' actions, stating that he had made a choice to confront Dandridge, rather than waiting for the police to arrive.
The judge highlighted that while Williams had a right to protect his family and champion racehorses, this should not have come at the expense of Dandridge's well-being. A previous incident, in which Williams encountered poachers on his land and was threatened with a shotgun, was also cited as a possible factor in his actions.
However, the judge emphasized that it is never acceptable to take the law into one's own hands and that Williams should have called the police instead. Williams, a multiple Grade One-winning trainer, has had notable success at the Cheltenham Festival. Recently, one of his horses, Ask Brewster, won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, competing under the name of Williams' wife, Cath, who had taken over the licence after Williams' conviction.