Grand National trainer jailed for beating man with hockey stick

Richard Evan Rhys Williams, known as Evan Williams, a 54-year-old racehorse trainer, was sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to assaulting Martin Dandridge with a hockey stick. The attack, which occurred in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan, left Dandridge, a 72-year-old man from Swindon, with a fractured arm. Recorder Angharad Price described the act as “an appalling offence,” emphasizing its severity during the sentencing.

Context of the Incident

On the night of the assault, Dandridge was staying at a nearby holiday cottage while walking his cockerpoo, Gulliver, in a paddock connected to Williams’s training facility. The attack happened in December 2024, and Dandridge recounted the event as a terrifying experience. He claimed Williams had approached him, shouting to extinguish his torchlight, which he believed was disturbing the horses.

“I was on my knees with the dog lead in one hand. I thought, ‘I’m going to die here and there’s nothing I can do’.”

Williams, who manages 120 horses across two locations, stated he intended to retrieve the man’s dog, using an extendable lead. He claimed Dandridge had fallen into a drainage hole after his dog pulled him over. However, prosecutor William Bebb dismissed this explanation, stating it was “nonsense” and that Williams’s anger was rooted in a history of conflicts with individuals using lights to hunt animals.

Previous Land Incidents

Williams’s property has faced prior issues, including unauthorized fly-grazing, hare coursing, and poaching. The court learned that his family had observed the lights on their land and suspected Dandridge was engaged in lamping—a practice where bright lights are used to locate animals like rabbits or foxes. Williams had even informed police beforehand about the presence of lampers on his land.

Impact on Business and Family

Defense lawyer David Elias KC highlighted the consequences of the prison sentence, noting it would affect employees, suppliers, and the business’s operations. He described Williams as of “exemplary character” and cited 570 character references supporting his case. The family’s dairy farm, which Williams took over at 18, evolved into a successful racehorse training operation. His wife took over his racing licence the day after his conviction, though it will expire at the end of next month.

“Evan Williams is the business he has the training knowledge and there is no-one else to take over this business.”

Williams’s enterprise, Evan Williams Racing, is a major employer in the Vale of Glamorgan. The court also revealed that he had experienced mental health challenges, including a confrontation with poachers six weeks earlier, where he was threatened with a shotgun and warned of potential arson. These factors contributed to his heightened fear and vigilance during the assault.