Jockey sentenced to three years for manslaughter of pensioner
A 25-year-old jockey has received a three-year prison sentence after admitting to the manslaughter of a pensioner outside a Suffolk pub, reports BritPanorama.
Levi Williams was handed the custodial term after pleading guilty to killing Richard Wingrove, 71, during a violent altercation in Newmarket on 8 March 2025 at approximately 3.40pm. The incident unfolded outside the Wagon & Horses public house, where a brawl involving four men erupted.
Williams had initially faced a murder charge, but prosecutors accepted a guilty plea to the lesser offence of manslaughter. He had been released on bail prior to today’s sentencing hearing.
Court proceedings revealed that Mr Wingrove and his son had been ejected from the bar by the landlord and were attempting to re-enter when the confrontation began. Evidence presented emerged that the jockey had been drinking in the pub garden with a friend, getting embroiled in a physical altercation with the son of the victim.
During the scuffle, Williams directed at least one punch at the elderly man before delivering a blow to his chest, causing Mr Wingrove to fall onto the pavement and into the roadway. This fall resulted in a catastrophic head injury, and the 71-year-old never regained consciousness. Medical staff withdrew life support ten days following the assault.
Williams, who had been working to rebuild his racing career, recorded 12 victories from 156 rides but faced repeated disciplinary issues. His history includes an 18-month suspension imposed by the British Horseracing Authority in September 2003 after testing positive for cocaine, as well as previous bans for substance abuse.
This troubling incident marks a significant moment not only in the life of Williams but also serves as a chilling reminder of the consequences of violence and the fragility of life, overshadowing the sport he once aspired to thrive in.
