Trainer Assaults Pensioner Over Suspected Poaching
A Grand National horse trainer allegedly assaulted a pensioner with a hockey stick after mistakenly believing he was poaching on his property, a court has been told.
Richard Evan Rhys Williams, commonly known as Evan Williams, aged 54, denies charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, as well as an alternative charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm on 72-year-old Martin Dandridge. The incident occurred on 4 December 2024 in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan.
At Cardiff Crown Court, it was stated that Williams intended to inflict serious injury on Dandridge, who was renting a holiday cottage in proximity to Williams' horse training establishment.
Dandridge, who was walking his daughter's dog at the time, rejected a claim by Williams' defence counsel that his arm was broken due to a fall into a ditch.
Prosecutor William Bebb explained the circumstances:
"It was a dark night and Mr Dandridge went to walk the dog before going to bed - at around 9.30pm with a head torch and the dog also had a light attached to his collar."
As they passed near the paddock and gallops associated with Evan Williams Racing, their lights attracted Williams' attention, Bebb added.
Two police officers were also present nearby, monitoring rural crime such as lamping and poaching that night.
Confrontation and Assault
Bebb recounted:
"Mr Williams drove up to the police in his 4x4 and said to the officers 'they are lamping in my field and we're going to challenge them'."
The police followed Williams, according to the prosecutor.
Dandridge observed a man exiting a vehicle carrying what appeared to be a hockey stick.
The court heard Williams questioned Dandridge:
"What are you doing in my field with a lamp and a dog?"
Bebb described the attack:
"Mr Williams rained down blows from the hockey stick on Mr Dandridge."
Dandridge sustained multiple strikes to his chest, leg, arm, and face.
Bebb emphasized:
"This was a man out walking his dog and now being assaulted with a hockey stick."
Despite Dandridge's attempts to explain he was staying in a holiday cottage, Williams did not acknowledge this.
Connor Ring, a jockey and Williams' daughter's partner, was present and attempted to intervene by moving Williams away.
Dandridge, who resides in Swindon, Wiltshire, was transported to Princess of Wales Hospital where X-rays revealed two fractured bones in his arm.
Williams' Denial and Police Interview
Following his arrest and police interview the next day, Williams denied assaulting Dandridge with a hockey stick.
He claimed the injuries were caused when Dandridge's dog pulled him into a drainage ditch approximately 3 feet (1 meter) deep.
Williams denied possessing a hockey stick, stating he carried a rope intended for guiding horses and potentially restraining the dog if it was loose.
Prosecutor Bebb asserted to the jury:
"This was a deliberate attack with a hockey stick."
Dandridge's Account of the Incident
Dandridge testified that he and his wife had been staying at the Gallops holiday cottage for three weeks prior to the assault, which occurred three days before his 71st birthday.
He explained:
"We were looking after my daughter's dog after she had a baby, and I walked Gulliver every morning and every night, usually near the horse racing stables.
"It was a nasty night weather-wise and I walked into the paddock and let Gulliver have a sniff around.
"He was on an extendable lead, and I saw lights come towards me from a vehicle which parked in the paddocks.
"A man approached me shouting and sounding angry and was carrying an object - when he got closer, I realised it was a hockey stick."
"Williams was holding the hockey stick in both hands."
Details of the Assault
Bebb questioned Dandridge about the manner in which Williams swung the hockey stick.
"Violently because of the speed and impact," Dandridge replied.
"He struck me on my back first and it was painful.
"He then hit me on my right thigh and I dropped to the floor.
"I said I was staying in the cottage and walking my dog but he continued to hit me. I started saying 'stop, stop' because there was very little I could do.
"I was on my knees with the dog lead in one hand.
"I thought 'I'm going to die here and there's nothing I can do.'"
Dandridge estimated the attack lasted approximately 60 seconds but felt much longer.
When police officers arrived, they instructed him to lie on the ground.
He recounted:
"I was confused why was I being detained when my attacker was a few feet away."
He was taken to the cottage where his wife questioned the officers about his condition.
"An officer said 'he was trespassing', and my wife said 'is this what you do to trespassers?'"
Defence Counsel's Challenge
Defence barrister David Elias KC referred to a photograph of Dandridge's head injuries.
He asked:
"You say this injury was caused by a hockey stick.
"But this injury happened when you were falling and stumbling on the rocky ground at the paddock, didn't it?"
Dandridge denied falling into a drainage ditch as suggested by Elias.
"No it was from blows, not from falling over," he stated.
