Horse racing trainer guilty of hockey stick assault

A Welsh Grand National-winning trainer has been found guilty of assaulting a man who was walking a dog on his land.

Richard Evan Rhys Williams, known as Evan Williams, 54, repeatedly struck Martin Dandridge with a hockey stick during the night-time assault in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan.

Williams broke Dandridge's arm during the incident which took place in December 2024.

He was bailed ahead of sentencing on 14 April at Cardiff Crown Court. Reports will be prepared and his barrister acknowledged he was at risk of losing his liberty.

The jury at Cardiff Crown Court took one hour 45 minutes to find Williams guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The victim was staying at a holiday cottage near to Williams's racehorse training centre.

He 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's property in the past - where animals are left on land without permission - as well as hare coursing and poaching.

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

When Williams arrived the lights began moving towards him and he became aware there a person and a dog.

Approaching the man, Williams told the jury he shouted at him to put out his light as he was worried it would upset his horses.

"The light would have been flickering in the stables and that can trigger horses," Williams said.

He wanted to get control of the man's dog and was "trying to grab his extendable lead".

Williams maintained Dandridge was hurt after being pulled over on the rough terrain by his out-of-control dog and had fallen into a drainage hole.

But William Bebb, prosecuting, suggested Williams's account 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."

Williams had taken over the family dairy farm as an 18-year-old before moving into racehorse training in 1996.

He established Evan Williams Racing in 2003 and trained Secret Reprieve, which won the rearranged 2020 Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.

By the time of the alleged offence, he was in charge of 120 horses over two locations.

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.

"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."

Recorder Angharad Price continued Williams's conditional bail.