Grand National trainer beat pensioner with hockey stick, court told

A Grand National horse trainer beat a pensioner with a hockey stick because he wrongly believed he was a poacher on his land, a court has heard.

Richard Evan Rhys Williams, known as Evan Williams, 54, denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent and an alternative charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm on 72-year-old Martin Dandridge on 4 December 2024 in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan.

Cardiff Crown court heard Williams intended to cause severe harm to Dandridge, who was renting a holiday cottage near to Williams' horse training facility.

Dandridge, who suffered a broken arm in the alleged attack, had been out walking his daughter's dog, prosecutor William Bebb told the jury.

"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," Bebb said.

As they walked near the paddock and gallops of Evan Williams Racing, their lights "drew the attention of Mr Williams", Bebb said.

"Two policemen were also nearby and on duty that night monitoring rural crime such as lamping and poaching.

"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, Bebb told the court.

He said Dandridge saw a man get out of a vehicle, "carrying a weapon which was a hockey stick".

The court heard Williams had asked Dandridge "what are you doing in my field with a lamp and a dog?"

Bebb told the jury: "Mr Williams rained down blows from the hockey stick on Mr Dandridge."

He was hit several times including on the chest, leg, arm and face, the jury was told.

"This was a man out walking his dog and now being assaulted with a hockey stick," Bebb said.

Dandridge was trying to explain he was staying in a holiday cottage, but this did not register with the defendant, the prosecution said.

Connor Ring, a jockey and Williams' daughter's partner, was also present and tried to move Williams away, the court heard.

Dandridge, from Swindon, Wiltshire, was taken to hospital and treated for a broken arm.

After being arrested and interviewed by police the next day, Williams denied assaulting Dandridge with a hockey stick.

He said the injuries Dandridge sustained were caused when his dog pulled him into a drainage ditch, with a drop of 3ft (1m).

He denied having a hockey stick and said he was carrying a rope, which he used to guide horses and was planning on using on the dog if he was loose, the court heard.

Bebb told jurors: "This was a deliberate attack with a hockey stick."

The trial continues.