Evan Williams was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to a 72-year-old when he found him on his land in March and sent to prison by a judge in Cardiff
Evan Williams: arriving for sentence at Cardiff Crown Court
Evan Williams: arriving for sentence at Cardiff Crown Court(Image: PA)
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Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Evan Williams has been jailed for three years for attacking a dog walker who was on his land. Richard Evan Rhys Williams, known as Evan Williams, 55, repeatedly struck Martin Dandridge, 72, with a hockey stick during the assault.
Mr Dandridge, from Swindon, Wiltshire, suffered injuries including a fractured arm in the incident on Williams' land at Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales, on the evening of December 4 2024.
The defendant denied a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but was convicted by a unanimous jury after 90 minutes of deliberations following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court in March.
On Tuesday, Recorder Angharad Price sentenced Williams to three years in prison. She told Williams: "This is an appalling offence where you attacked Mr Dandridge causing him serious injuries.
"I know that you fully understand that he is still living with the impact of your actions on that day 16 months ago."
The judge told Williams that he had a "choice" on that day - to confront Mr Dandridge himself or wait for nearby police to attend.
Evan Williams: found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm
Evan Williams: found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm(Image: PA)
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"When you gave evidence at trial, you talked very passionately of your champion racehorses and their security, you talked of protecting them from harm," she said.
"You also talked about protecting your family from harm. However, that protection should not have came at Mr Dandridge's cost."
The judge described an incident that had taken place six weeks before the assault, in which Williams disturbed poachers on his land and was threatened with a shotgun.
"The earlier incident you experienced with threats of violence to you and your home must have been very frightening," the judge added.
Ask Brewster: a winner for Cath Williams at Cheltenham
Ask Brewster: a winner for Cath Williams at Cheltenham (Image: PA)
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"It is never acceptable to take the law into your own hands. This sentence will be a lesson to you that it is always better to call the police if you think a crime is being committed."
Williams, who began training in 1998, has sent out more than 1,200 winners. He has trained numerous big race winners including two at the Cheltenham Festival. In the Grand National he has saddled a second, third and three fourth placed finishers and landed the Welsh Grand National in 2020 with Secret Reprieve.
He ceased being a licensed trainer following his conviction in March and the licence transferred to his wife Cath. Running in her name Ask Brewster delivered a third Festival success for the stable when winning the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.