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Dog walker beaten with hockey stick by top horse trainer says his jail term is too soft
TL;DR
A dog walker was beaten with a hockey stick by horse trainer Evan Williams, resulting in a broken arm. The victim, Martin Dandridge, is challenging Williams' three-year prison sentence as too lenient.
Key points
- Martin Dandridge was beaten with a hockey stick.
- The attack occurred in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan.
- Evan Williams was sentenced to three years in prison.
- Dandridge is challenging the leniency of the sentence.
- He experienced ongoing pain from a broken arm.
Mentioned in this story
Martin DandridgeEvan WilliamsLlancarfanVale of Glamorgan
A man who was beaten with a hockey stick by a Grand National trainer while walking a dog on his land has described the sentence as "unduly lenient" and said he was challenging it through official channels.
Martin Dandridge, 72, was repeatedly struck during the night-time assault in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan, by Richard Evan Rhys Williams, 54, known as Evan Williams.
Dandridge's arm was broken during the attack in December 2024, leaving him with "ongoing pain" in his forearm.
Williams was sentenced to three years in prison on Tuesday, but Dandridge said he had "challenged the leniency" through a scheme overseen by the Attorney General's office.
In a victim impact statement, Dandridge, from Swindon, said he thought he was "going to die" during the attack.
"That moment is still vivid in my mind," he added.
Dandridge also said the assault has had a lasting physical and mental impact, and that he struggles with "the memory of feeling completely helpless and defenceless".
"Sadly, because of the assault and what has followed, I don't feel like the same person I was before," he said, adding that he still has problems with his left forearm and hand despite the assault taking place years ago.
Last month, a jury at Cardiff Crown Court found Williams guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Sentencing him on Tuesday, Recorder Angharad Price described it as an "appalling offence".
"You had a choice that night. You could have waited and let the police deal with the situation but instead you urgently raced to the paddock to deal with it yourself.
"It is never acceptable to take the law into your own hands."
Dandridge told the BBC he believes Williams's sentence was "unduly lenient given the aggravating features in the case", including the fact he had used as a weapon, and the injuries that were caused.
He said he would challenge it through the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, which allows anyone to request a review of Crown Court sentences if they believe them to be too low.
Law officers have 28 days to decide if they think a case is too lenient, and if so can request the Court of Appeal to consider.
A spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office said a decision had not yet been reached on Williams's case.
Q&A
What happened to Martin Dandridge during the attack?
Martin Dandridge was beaten with a hockey stick by horse trainer Evan Williams, resulting in a broken arm and ongoing pain.
How long was Evan Williams sentenced to prison for the attack?
Evan Williams was sentenced to three years in prison for the assault on Martin Dandridge.
Why does Martin Dandridge believe the sentence is too lenient?
Martin Dandridge described the sentence as 'unduly lenient' and is challenging it through official channels, expressing fear for his life during the attack.
