- This topic has 46 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 3 weeks, 4 days ago by
.
- Posts
The part I find most puzzling is that such an upstanding member of the community with over 570 character references appears to have lied about his actions.
While what he has been found guilty of is in no way justifiable, I would find it easier to empathise if he admitted he snapped and caused grave harm as a result.
“Amesbury’s apparent lenient treatment did irk somewhat.”
It would have been far better for him and his reputation (such as it was) if he served the ten weeks, or even half of them. But to get it reduced to a suspended sentence left a nasty taste in the mouth.
As for Williams, I am reminded of seeing an ex-con interviewed and saying that no one should think they will never go to prison. All it takes is a loss of self control in the heat of the moment.
The three years (probably 12 to 18 months with good behaviour) is nothing compared to the loss of his business, his reputation etc.
As I said earlier in the thread, he always came across well in interviews, so it is disappointing to see what he has done. I do have some sympathy for him given the problems he had experienced with lampers and trespassers but you can’t take the law into your own hands. He may well have been at the end of his tether but he is going to pay a very high price.
I also have sympathy for Williams. Rural crime police are under-resourced and victims are often frustrated by the lack of protection. However, the man he assaulted was a 72 year old walking a cockerpoo (not exactly the dog of choice for poachers or people with violent intent). That he mistook him for a lamper suggests he was so consumed with rage that he must be considered a danger to society, hence the sentence.
Does Amesbury’s light sentence suggest that some are treated more leniently than others? Of course. There are even more high profile examples who have got away scot free. Disgusting but we all know it to be true.
Feel sympathy for all involved. Its easy to be critical until you are in a incident. Everybody has a different breaking point. Sentence seems excessive given how many folk have been getting eatly releases from prison to ease congestion. Just a very sad tale all round. There is no doubt being connected helps you get prefetential treatment. Its happened for centuries.
Completely agree Tonge he almost certainly went out with anger and intent and the evidence he found couldn’t change his mind. He wants to think himself lucky, many a death have occurred from attacks on people when that wasn’t the aim.
The more I know the less I understand.
Goes without saying the victim suffered an horrendous experience. I hope he manages to recover from it. Victims do tend to be forgotten many times in this type of incident.
I’ve some first hand experience of this. I’ve been convicted of GBH myself in the past. The problem Evan Williams has is the “intent” part. Laying into someone with a hockey stick is instantly section 20. You’re not avoiding the drop for that.
For context. Mine was section 18, I didn’t have a weapon and I was (legitimately as the judge said) convinced I was about to be a victim of an attack myself.
I got 2 years suspended, 100 hours community service and a fine.
The victim thinks the sentence is too lenient and is considering an appeal
Wasn’t aware he had actually won the Grand National.
The more I know the less I understand.
It is not the first time the BBC has drawn an unnecessary and irrelevant link between the case and the Grand National:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c39330rnxdko
Once could be overlooked. But twice?
Martin Dandridge sounds like a throughly obnoxious twat!
Evan Williams has just been given 18 months in the slammer, possibly lose his business, his home and who knows how he’s feeling in his prison cell every night. It must be awful. Considering his previously exemplary behaviour, the fact he was threatened with a shotgun weeks beforehand it’s entirely reasonable for him to think him and his family were in immediate danger.
Yet this arsehole thinks he should have the key thrown away! Uneffinbelievable!
Horse racing isn’t helping itself , talking points on RTV near making out Williams is a victim in this , he isn’t , he’s someone who attacked a oap with a hockey stick , he got his sentence and should now do his time
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
While I do think it may be best for Dandridge if he tries to move on, I wonder if some of the resentment he bears is because Williams didn’t admit to the offence, and has presumably never indicated he is truly sorry as a result. It must be very difficult to be forgiving in those circumstances.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.