Evan Williams, a renowned Welsh Grand National-winning horse trainer, has been sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting a 72-year-old dog walker, Martin Dandridge, on his property in Llancarfan, south Wales. Williams repeatedly struck Dandridge with a hockey stick, causing serious injuries including a fractured arm. Despite denying the charge of grievous bodily harm with intent, Williams was convicted by a jury after a trial at Cardiff crown court. The judge emphasized that Williams had a choice to wait for police rather than taking violent action and highlighted the lasting impact of the attack on Dandridge.

Williams, who has had a highly successful career since founding Evan Williams Racing in 2003, including multiple Grade One wins and notable performances at the Cheltenham Festival and Grand Nationals, now faces uncertainty over the future of his training business. His barrister stated that the business could not continue without him. The judge acknowledged a prior threatening incident involving poachers on Williams’s land but stressed that taking the law into one’s own hands is unacceptable, underscoring the importance of involving law enforcement in such situations.