1 month ago
The Welsh Grand National-winning trainer Evan Williams has been jailed for 3 years for attacking a canine walker who was connected his land.
Williams, 55, many times struck Martin Dandridge, 72, pinch a lucky instrumentality during nan assault. Dandridge, from Swindon, suffered injuries including a fractured limb successful nan incident connected Williams’ onshore astatine Llancarfan successful southbound Wales successful December 2024.
The suspect denied a complaint of causing grievous bodily harm pinch intent, but was convicted by a unanimous assemblage aft 90 minutes of deliberations pursuing a proceedings astatine Cardiff crown tribunal successful March. The early of Williams’ training business is now successful doubt, aft his barrister, David Elias KC, told nan tribunal connected Tuesday: “If he isn’t there, location is nary business.”
Recorder Angharad Price, sentencing nan trainer to 3 years successful prison, told Williams: “This is an appalling offence wherever you attacked Mr Dandridge causing him superior injuries. I cognize that you afloat understand that he is still surviving pinch nan effect of your actions connected that time 16 months ago.”
The judge told Williams that he had a “choice” connected that time – to face Dandridge himself aliases hold for adjacent constabulary to attend. “When you gave grounds astatine trial, you talked very passionately of your champion racehorses and their security, you talked of protecting them from harm,” she said. “You besides talked astir protecting your family from harm. However, that protection should not person came astatine Mr Dandridge’s cost.”
The judge described an incident that had taken spot six weeks earlier nan assault, successful which Williams disturbed poachers connected his onshore and was threatened pinch a shotgun. “The earlier incident you knowledgeable pinch threats of unit to you and your location must person been very frightening,” nan judge added.
“It is ne'er acceptable to return nan rule into your ain hands. This condemnation will beryllium a instruction to you that it is ever amended to telephone nan constabulary if you deliberation a crime is being committed.”
Williams is simply a aggregate Grade One-winning trainer who has had occurrence astatine nan Cheltenham festival. Last period Ask Brewster, moving successful nan sanction of his wife, Cath, who had taken complete nan licence upon Williams being recovered guilty, won nan Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase astatine nan festival.
He established Evan Williams Racing successful 2003 and became 1 of Wales’ astir successful trainers pinch top-four finishes successful 5 consecutive Grand Nationals astatine Aintree betwixt 2009 and 2013. He trained Secret Reprieve, which won nan 2020 Welsh Grand National astatine Chepstow.
