A champion horse trainer has been jailed for three years after attacking a 72-year-old man with a hockey stick, breaking his arm. Richard Williams, 55, also known as Evan, struck Martin Dandridge repeatedly after spotting him walking his dog on his land in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan.
Williams denied grievous bodily harm with intent but was found guilty at Cardiff Crown Court in March after just 90 minutes of deliberation. The court heard that Mr Dandridge and his wife were staying at a holiday cottage near Williams' training centre to be close to their daughter, who had recently given birth.
On the night of December 4, 2024, Mr Dandridge took his cockapoo, Gulliver, for a walk in a paddock that was part of the stables. As it was dark, both he and Gulliver were wearing torches. Williams, who had experienced an incident with poachers six weeks earlier, suspected someone was lamping on his land and confronted Mr Dandridge with a hockey stick, hitting him with such force that he fractured his arm.
At trial, Williams claimed he did not injure Mr Dandridge and suggested his injuries were caused by being pulled on rough terrain by his dog and falling into a drainage hole. However, the jury rejected his account. Describing the impact, Mr Dandridge said he had previously enjoyed golf, DIY and metal detecting, but now struggles with everyday tasks due to ongoing problems with his left arm. He added: 'Sadly, because of the assault what has followed, I don’t feel like the same person I was before.'
Recorder Angharad Price told Williams he had a 'choice' that day: to confront Mr Dandridge or wait for police. She said: 'You talked very passionately of your champion racehorses and their security... However, that protection should not have come at Mr Dandridge’s cost.' Jailing him, she added: 'This sentence will be a lesson to you that it is always better to call the police if you think a crime is being committed.'
