A retired probation officer and college lecturer says his life has been turned upside down after a brutal beating by a leading racehorse trainer.
Martin Dandridge is still suffering from PTSD and lasting physical injuries after the unprovoked attack.
The now 72-year-old had been staying in a rented cottage near his daughter when the horror unfolded as he took his dog for an evening walk.
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He ended up with a broken arm and other serious injuries after being repeatedly struck with a hockey stick by trainer Evan Williams.
On Monday (9 March), Welsh Grand National-winning trainer Williams, 54, was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
A court heard how he repeatedly hit Mr Dandridge during the night-time attack in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan, breaking the victim’s arm in two places.
Williams, who trains National Hunt horses at nearby stables, will be sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on 14 April.
Speaking after the verdict, Mr Dandridge described the terrifying ordeal.
“My wife and I were there to be close to our daughter who had recently given birth,” Mr Dandridge, from Swindon, Wiltshire, told Need To Know.
“At around 9:30pm, I left our holiday cottage to walk our family cockapoo.
“Minutes later while on the walk in a field close to the holiday cottage, I was brutally assaulted by a man wielding a hockey stick.
“I didn’t know him at the time but I now know him to be Evan Williams, the horse racing trainer.
“What kind of a human being launches such a vicious attack on a defenceless, elderly man out innocently walking his dog?
“The whole incident was the stuff of nightmares and utterly bizarre, perpetrated by a savage of a man.
“During the first three weeks of our stay, I walked my dog each evening, either down the lane past the racing stables or into the unbarred non-gated field next to our cottage.
“On the evening of the assault, the weather was cold, stormy, wet and very dark.
“Because of the weather I decided to walk the dog in the field next to our cottage rather than walk down the lane the entrance to the field was no more than 100 yards from our front gate.
“The gates to the paddock were wide open and there was no signage.
“Due to the time of day and bad weather l was wearing four layers of clothing and a bright head torch on my head.
“My clothing was light in colour, and with the head torch I was clearly visible as was my dog who had on a fluorescent jacket and collar light.
“We could be seen for miles.
“Shortly after seeing a car pull up at the entrance to the paddock, a man charged towards me yelling and swinging a hockey stick.
“He was shouting and swearing aggressively, ‘what are you doing’, to which I immediately answered, ‘I’m walking my dog’.
“He did not acknowledge my response but instead swung the hockey stick at me violently.
“It was a crazed, frenzied attack swinging the weapon at me hard and fast, as if he was trying to fell a tree.
“The blows knocked me to the floor and while on my knees, defenceless, he rained blows on my body.
“The blows kept coming and I feared for my life as there was nothing l could do to stop them.
“The hockey stick connected with my head and smashed my head torch, leaving bruises on my forehead.
“While I was on my knees, he raised the weapon and brought it down on me.
“l raised my arm to protect my head and he struck my arm with such force that it broke two bones in my forearm – the pain was excruciating.
“Then a young man I now know to be Conor Ring, a jockey at Evan Williams Racing, stepped in.
“He said to Williams words to the effect of, ‘That’s enough’.
“Only then did the attack stop.
“I was left kneeling on the ground in pain and agony from the multiple blows he’d delivered.
“Conor Ring then ushered Williams away from me.”
Mr Dandridge said two police officers later arrived at the scene on 4 December 2024.
He added: “l was unable to walk unaided so the police officers assisted me back to the cottage.
“l went into shock so the police decided to take me to Bridgend Hospital where l was treated.
“I had multiple bruises to my body, two fractures and an open wound to my forearm.”
Fifteen months on from the attack, Mr Dandridge says he is still suffering both physically and psychologically.
He said: “I have significant residual pain in my left forearm and a significant loss of grip in my left hand.
“I’ve also been diagnosed with PTSD.
“I was a fit and able 71-year-old man who enjoyed sport and hobbies, none of which I can now participate in.
“The attack has not only traumatised me, but also my family.
“What should have been a happy time, celebrating a beautiful new addition to our family, was destroyed by Evan Williams’ senseless violence.
“What makes the whole incident even worse is we have not been able to get on with our normal lives due to his refusal to acknowledge and take responsibility for his actions that night necessitating a trial.
“This has added insult to the considerable injuries he caused to my family and I.
“I also found myself waking in the middle of the night thinking about the assault and what the outcome could have been had it been my wife, and not l, walking the dog that evening.”
Williams founded Evan Williams Racing in 2003 and trained Secret Reprieve, winner of the 2020 Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.
At the time of the offence he had around 120 horses across two training yards.
During the trial, Williams claimed Mr Dandridge was injured after being pulled over by his out-of-control dog and falling into a drainage hole on rough ground.
But a jury at Cardiff Crown Court took just one hour and 45 minutes to find him guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Recorder Angharad Price continued Williams’s conditional bail.
Reports will now be prepared and his barrister acknowledged he could face a prison sentence.
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