Trainer Accused of Assaulting Dog Walker
A Welsh Grand National winning trainer was described as being "filled with rage" prior to assaulting a dog walker on his property, a court has been told.
Richard Evan Rhys Williams, commonly known as Evan Williams, aged 54, faces allegations of repeatedly striking Martin Dandridge with a hockey stick during a night-time incident in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan, in December 2024.
Prosecutor Suggests Motive Linked to Lampers
During cross-examination, prosecutor William Bebb proposed that Williams's background involving lampers—individuals who use lights to locate animals such as rabbits and foxes—may have motivated him to "teach them a lesson."
Williams denies charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, as well as an alternative charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Victim's Injuries and Circumstances
Martin Dandridge, 72, from Swindon, sustained injuries including a fractured arm during the incident.
The court previously heard that Dandridge was staying at a holiday cottage near Williams's racehorse training centre and had taken his cockerpoo, Gulliver, for a walk in a paddock that forms part of the stables, using a torch due to the darkness.
Defendant's Account and Property Issues
On Thursday, Williams testified that his property had experienced prior issues with fly-grazing—where animals are left on land without permission—as well as hare coursing and poaching.
The jury was informed that Williams's family noticed lights on their land and suspected that Dandridge was lamping.
Williams maintained that he did not injure Dandridge and asserted that the injuries occurred after Dandridge lost control of his dog, was pulled over rough terrain, and fell into a drainage hole.
"I am not exaggerating that terrain. It is only a hazard if you are not aware of the gallops and what they're used for,"
Williams told Cardiff Crown Court on Friday.
"Unfortunately we found that they can be treacherous if you're the wrong person, in the wrong place, at the wrong time, doing the wrong type of thing."
He denied carrying a hockey stick and stated he had a lead rein, which he had taken from his truck to assist with the dog.
Williams claimed he acted to prevent "more damage" from occurring to Dandridge.
Prosecution Challenges Defendant's Version
During cross-examination, the prosecution challenged Williams's account, suggesting it was "nonsense" and that he was "filled with rage" due to his experience with lampers.
"I suggest that you began to swing down with that hockey stick with some force,"
Bebb said.
"Whether a broken bone or a wound, you wanted to teach those lampers a lesson. I suggest you struck him repeatedly, swearing and shouting as you did.
"You swung that hockey stick with such force it connected with his arm and that blow broke his arm."
Williams responded,
"No. I disagree."
Bebb further stated that Williams "didn't even register" that Dandridge was pleading with him that he was a dog walker.
"Such was the single-mindedness of you, not waiting for the police, passing onto the gallops.
"He was telling you, 'stop, stop, stop'. You were shouting and swearing at him and telling him he was trespassing,"
he added.
Williams reiterated that he did not possess a hockey stick and did not cause any injuries to Dandridge, stating,
"There was no strike from me."
The prosecutor also questioned whether Williams believed that "on your land, it was your law."
