LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — A successful British horse-racing trainer was jailed for three years on Tuesday for attacking a dog-walker who was on his land.

Richard Evan Rhys Williams, known as Evan Williams, 55 — who trained Secret Reprieve to win the 2020 Welsh Grand National — repeatedly struck Martin Dandridge, 72, with a hockey stick during the assault.

Dandridge, from Swindon, Wiltshire, south-west England, suffered injuries including a fractured arm in the incident on Williams’ land at Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales, on the evening of December 4, 2024.

The defendant denied a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but was convicted by a unanimous jury verdict after 90 minutes of deliberations following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court in March.

On Tuesday, Recorder (judge) Angharad Price sentenced Williams to three years in prison, telling him: “This is an appalling offence where you attacked Mr Dandridge causing him serious injuries.

“I know that you fully understand that he is still living with the impact of your actions on that day 16 months ago.”

Williams established Evan Williams Racing in 2003 and became one of Wales’ most successful trainers.

He had top-four finishes in five consecutive Grand Nationals at Aintree between 2009 and 2013 with Cappa Bleu finishing second in the latter.

The judge told Williams that he had a “choice” to confront Dandridge himself or wait for nearby police to attend.

“When you gave evidence at trial, you talked very passionately of your champion racehorses and their security, you talked of protecting them from harm,” she said.

“You also talked about protecting your family from harm. However, that protection should not have came at Mr Dandridge’s cost.”

The judge also referenced an incident from six weeks before the assault, where Williams disturbed poachers on his land and was threatened with a shotgun.

“The earlier incident you experienced with threats of violence to you and your home must have been very frightening,” said Price.

“It is never acceptable to take the law into your own hands. 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.”