Horse racing trainer tried to help not hurt man - court
Evan Williams is accused of attacking a dog walker with a hockey stick.
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Horse racing trainer tried to help not hurt man - court 10 minutes ago Share Save Claire Hayhurst , Press Association and Matt Murray , BBC Wales Share Save A Welsh Grand National winning trainer has denied attacking a man with a hockey stick, instead telling a court he was trying to help him from a ditch. 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, to Martin Dandridge on 4 December 2024 in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan. He is alleged to have used a hockey stick to hit Dandridge, 72, from Swindon, causing injuries including a fractured left forearm. South Wales Police's Insp Gareth Childs told Cardiff Crown Court he saw Williams use an object to strike Dandridge after being called to the scene. But when Williams's home was searched by police no hockey stick was found. Williams denied hitting him with a rope used for leading horses and denied owning a hockey stick. Dandrige, wearing a light, went for a walk with his cockerpoo Gulliver in a paddock that was part of the stables at about 21:30 GMT. Father-of-three Williams told the court he had a phone call from daughter Isabelle, who had seen lights moving on the family's land at about 21:00. Williams, who had been at Ludlow Racecourse that day, changed his clothes before heading towards the light in his truck with his daughter's partner, jockey Conor Ring. The court previously heard Williams passed two police officers as he drove to the paddock, telling them "there's lampers on my gallop, they are there now". Lamping involves people using lights to find animals such as rabbits and foxes, often with a dog. Williams said there were problems locally involving fly-grazing - where animals are left on land without permission - as well as hare coursing and poaching. Insp Gareth Childs, of South Wales Police, and his colleague PC Stuart Elson turned their car around and drove to the paddock where Williams...
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