Grand National Trainer Jailed for Violent Assault

Richard Evan Rhys Williams, 54, known as Evan Williams, received a three-year custodial sentence following a conviction for causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The Cardiff Crown Court found Williams guilty of repeatedly striking Martin Dandridge with a hockey stick during a nighttime incident in December 2024, resulting in a broken arm for the victim.

Details of the Attack

Mr Dandridge, 72, from Swindon, was staying in a nearby holiday cottage and was walking his dog in a paddock on Williams’s land, using a torch due to the darkness. Williams’s property had experienced previous issues with fly-grazing, hare coursing, and poaching. The court heard that Williams’s family spotted lights on their land and mistakenly believed Mr Dandridge was 'lamping' – using bright lights to hunt animals.

Williams drove to the paddock, passing police officers and informing them of ‘lampers on his gallops’. Upon arrival, he confronted Mr Dandridge. Williams claimed he was concerned the light would disturb his 120 horses and attempted to control Mr Dandridge's dog. However, the prosecution argued Williams was consumed by rage, intending to 'teach those lampers a lesson'.

Victim's Ordeal and Sentencing

Mr Dandridge testified that Williams held the hockey stick with both hands and that he feared for his life during the approximately 60-second assault. His victim impact statement detailed ongoing physical pain and a profound change in his quality of life, stating he no longer feels like the same person he was before the attack.

David Elias KC, defending Williams, highlighted the significant impact a prison sentence would have on Williams's family, 30 employees, and the broader racing community, describing the business as the largest rural employer in the Vale of Glamorgan. He also cited Williams’s exemplary character and mental health issues stemming from a prior confrontation with armed poachers.

Recorder Angharad Price acknowledged Williams’s heightened fear but condemned his actions, stating, "It is never acceptable to take the law into your own hands." She sentenced Williams to three years in prison, emphasising that he had a choice to involve the police rather than confronting the situation himself.