Cheltenham trainer faces prospect of prison sentence after attack on dog-walker
A coach who will coach runners at the Cheltenham Festival faces a prison sentence after being found guilty of attacking a dog walker.
The court heard that coach Evan Williams, 54, repeatedly hit Martin Dandridge, 72, with a hockey stick, and Martin Dandridge suffered injuries, including a broken arm, during the attack.
Dandridge was walking his dog on Williams’ property in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, on 4 December 2024 when the incident occurred.
A jury at Cardiff Crown Court took just 90 minutes to find Williams, who will be his runners-up at Cheltenham this week, guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
His sentence was postponed until after the holiday.
David Elias KC, defending, asked for the sentencing hearing to be postponed because of the reports and to give Williams time to make alternative arrangements for his racing business if he was jailed.
“In the circumstances of this case, bearing in mind that he is 54 years old and has so far been of good character, we urge the court to adjourn the hearing for a pre-sentence report so that it knows everything it needs to about Mr Williams,” Mr Elias said.
“As I have stated, Mr Williams knows he is in danger of losing his freedom and is seeking an extension of bail.
“There is a condition in the case not to contact the complainant directly or indirectly, and there has been no problem in this regard so far.
“He has his own business and he will have to think about how to handle it, considering the risk of losing his freedom.
“He wants some time before the sentence he will receive if the court issues a pre-sentence report to sort things out in case he loses his freedom.
“In fact, he has very urgent commitments in the racing world this week and he wants to fulfill them if possible.”
Recorder Angharad Price continued Williams on conditional bail and said he would be sentenced on April 14 after reports are prepared.
The court heard Mr Dandridge was staying at a holiday home near Williams’ racehorse training centre.
Mr Dandridge took Gulliver the cocktail for a walk in the paddock which was part of the stables, and as it was dark he was using a torch.
The court heard that rabbit hunting and poaching had also taken place on Williams’ property in the past, as well as fly grazing, where animals were left on land without permission.
His family noticed lights on their land and believed Mr. Dandridge was lighting lamps as people used bright lights to find animals such as rabbits and foxes (often accompanied by a dog).
Williams told the court he did not injure Mr Dandridge and claimed he was injured when he was pulled over by his out-of-control dog in rough terrain and fell into a drainage hole.
“If we hadn’t acted the way we did, Mr Dandridge could have been left alone, hit his head and we could have faced a serious, serious, very serious death,” the father-of-three said.
Prosecutor William Bebb asked the defendant if he was a hero, and he replied: “I’m no hero. I’m just saying that Mr. Dandridge’s failure to control his dog caused his injury.”
Mr Bebb claimed Williams’ description of an out-of-control dog was “nonsense”.
“You were filled with anger because of the nature of your history with the lampmen,” he said.
“Whether it was a broken bone or a wound, you wanted to teach those lampmen a lesson. I suggest you hit him repeatedly, curse at him, and yell at him.”
Additional reporting by PA
