Trainer Evan Williams found guilty of assaulting dog walker with hockey stick and could face jail

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Trainer Evan Williams could face a prison sentence after being convicted of assaulting a dog walker on his land.

Williams, 54, was found guilty at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday of repeatedly striking 72-year-old Martin Dandridge with a hockey stick during an incident at his property in Llancarfan, South Wales, on December 4, 2024.

Dandridge, from Swindon in Wiltshire, sustained several injuries, including a fractured arm, during the attack.

A jury took one hour and 45 minutes to convict Williams – who is due to saddle Libberty Hunter in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday – of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was bailed ahead of sentencing on April 14. Reports will be prepared and his barrister David Elias KC had asked for the sentencing hearing to be adjourned to give Williams time to plan alternative arrangements for his yard due to the threat of jail time.

The BBC reported that Elias said: "He has his business and he will need to consider how that will be looked after, bearing in mind the risk of him losing his liberty.

"Indeed, he has very pressing commitments in the racing world this week, which he would like to fulfil if that is possible."

The court previously heard that Dandridge “feared for his life” during an incident at Williams’ stables on the evening in question.

The incident happened at around 9.30pm when Williams mistook Dandridge for a lamper, a type of poacher, after seeing the lights from a headlamp and the illuminated collar of a cockapoo. Williams, accompanied by jockey Conor Ring, drove towards Dandridge on a rural lane before confronting and striking him several times with an object believed to be a hockey stick.

Williams has been the leading Welsh trainer in the British jumps trainers’ championship for the past 11 seasons. He trained Secret Reprieve, winner of the rearranged Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in 2020, while he has also saddled four Grade 1 winners.

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