Horse Trainer Sentenced for Hockey Stick Assault on Dog Walker
A champion racehorse trainer has been sentenced to prison after attacking a dog walker on his property. The defendant used a hockey stick in the incident, prosecutors said.
The trainer is 55-year-old Richard Evan Rhys Williams, known as Evan Williams. The victim is 72-year-old Martin Dandridge of Swindon.
What happened
The assault occurred on December 4, 2024. The location was a paddock on Williams’ land at Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan.
Mr Dandridge had been staying in a nearby holiday cottage. He was walking his cockerpoo, Gulliver, using a torch because it was night.
Injuries and immediate aftermath
Prosecutors say Williams repeatedly struck Mr Dandridge with a hockey stick. The victim suffered a fractured arm and other injuries.
Williams approached the walker after spotting him on the property. Family members had believed the man was lamping.
Trial and verdict
The case went to Cardiff Crown Court in March. Williams denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
A unanimous jury found him guilty after about 90 minutes of deliberation. Prosecutor William Bebb told the court the defendant acted in anger.
Defence account and background
Williams told the court the injuries came when Mr Dandridge’s dog dragged him into a drainage hole. The prosecution rejected that version as implausible.
Six weeks before the assault, Williams reported being threatened with a shotgun after disturbing poachers. He had told the court he feared for his horses and family.
Sentence and judge’s remarks
Recorder Angharad Price sentenced Williams on April 14, 2026. He received a three-year prison term.
The judge said he had chosen to confront the visitor rather than wait for police. She added that taking the law into one’s own hands is unacceptable.
Aftermath
The judge noted Mr Dandridge continues to live with the impact of his injuries. The prosecution described the episode as a hockey stick assault driven by hostility toward lampers.
Filmogaz.com will monitor any further developments, including possible appeals. The case highlights tensions around rural trespass and on-land confrontations.
