Racing Mar 10, 2026

Trainer Evan Williams found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent over dog walker attack

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Trainer Evan Williams found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent over dog walker attack

Trainer Evan Williams could be jailed after he was convicted of assaulting a dog walker who was on his land late at night.

Williams, 54, repeatedly struck Martin Dandridge, 72, with a hockey stick during a night-time 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 December 4 2024.

A jury at Cardiff Crown Court took just 90 minutes to find Williams - who is due to have runners at the Cheltenham Festival this week - guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

David Elias KC, defending, asked for the sentencing hearing to be adjourned for reports and to give Williams time to put in place alternative arrangements for his racing business should he be jailed.

"In the circumstances of this case, bearing in mind he is 54 and of hitherto good character, we would invite the court to adjourn for a pre-sentence report so that this court knows everything it needs to about Mr Williams," Mr Elias said.

"As I have indicated, Mr Williams knows that he is at serious risk of losing his liberty and that he asks for bail to be extended.

"He has a condition not to contact directly or indirectly the complainant in the case, and there have been no difficulties with that hitherto.

"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.

"He would like some time prior to sentence, which he would have if the court orders a pre-sentence report, to put things in place in case it is that he loses his liberty.

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

Recorder Angharad Price continued Williams' conditional bail and said he would be sentenced on April 14 after the preparation of reports.

"We will adjourn until April 14 and until then your bail will be enlarged on the same terms," she said.

"In that time you will be contacted by probation so they can prepare a report, and it is very important you co-operate with them."

The court heard Mr Dandridge was staying at a holiday cottage near to Williams' racehorse training centre.

Mr Dandridge took his cockerpoo Gulliver for a walk in a paddock that was part of the stables, and because it was dark was using a torch.

There had been incidents of fly-grazing on Williams' property in the past - where animals are left on land without permission - as well as hare coursing and poaching, the court heard.

His family spotted the lights on their land and believed Mr Dandridge was lamping, when people use bright lights to find animals such as rabbits and foxes, often with a dog.

Williams told the court he did not injure Mr Dandridge and maintained he was hurt after being pulled over on the rough terrain by his out-of-control dog and had fallen into a drainage hole.

"If we hadn't acted in the way we had, Mr Dandridge could have been on his own, hit his head, and we could be looking at serious, serious, serious death," the father-of-three said.

William Bebb, prosecuting, asked the defendant if he was the hero, and he replied: "I'm no hero.

"I'm only saying that Mr Dandridge's unfortunate lack of control of his dog caused his injury."

Mr Bebb suggested Williams' account of an out-of-control dog was "nonsense".

"You were filled with rage due to the nature of the background you had with lampers," he said.

"Whether a broken bone or a wound, you wanted to teach those lampers a lesson. I suggest you struck him repeatedly, swearing and shouting as you did."

Tags:

racing news

Share this article

Related Posts

Cheltenham Festival: Kargese keeps it clean for Arkle Novices' Chase success as mistakes cost big two

Cheltenham Festival: Kargese keeps it clean for Arkle Novices' Chase success as mistakes cost big two

Kargese sprang a minor surprise as she claimed victory in the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.Sent off a 7-1 shot with all...

Cheltenham tips: No Drama This End backed to fend off Irish challengers in Turners Novices' Hurdle

Cheltenham tips: No Drama This End backed to fend off Irish challengers in Turners Novices' Hurdle

Kate Tracey and Declan Rix return to discuss their best bets for day two of the Cheltenham Festival.The team opened the show with a look at the Turner...

Cheltenham Festival day one tips: Brighterdaysahead backed for Champion Hurdle glory by racing pundit Kevin Blake

Cheltenham Festival day one tips: Brighterdaysahead backed for Champion Hurdle glory by racing pundit Kevin Blake

This is it! After all the months of build-up, the 2026 Cheltenham Festival is upon us.While the big meeting has lost more than its fair share of stars...

Lord Allen: British Horseracing Authority chair resigns after six months in role

Lord Allen: British Horseracing Authority chair resigns after six months in role

The British Horseracing Authority has announced that Lord Allen has resigned as the ruling body’s chair after less than a year in the post.Lord Charle...

Unbridled Cheltenham Festival day 2 preview: 66/1 fancy in the Champion Chase plus will Majborough jump well?

Unbridled Cheltenham Festival day 2 preview: 66/1 fancy in the Champion Chase plus will Majborough jump well?

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the feature race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival and the Unbridled duo of Matt Chapman and Paddy Brennan have...

Cheltenham tips: Brighterdaysahead fancied to banish Festival demons in Champion Hurdle by Matt Chapman

Cheltenham tips: Brighterdaysahead fancied to banish Festival demons in Champion Hurdle by Matt Chapman

With the Cheltenham Festival upon us, Matt Chapman sat down with Paddy Brennan to reveal their best bets for day one.In the episode of Unbridled, the...