‘I’m just paying someone the bill to get you done’
Danny CAHALANE(Image: Funeral Notices)
A jury in the trial of ten people accused of being involved in the death of a Plymouth father-of-two heard a series of expletive and threat-laden text messages sent back and forth between the acid attack victim and a drug boss he owed around £120,000 to.
At one stage the drug boss was so enraged at Danny Cahalane’s empty promises to pay back the cash he threatened to burn down Danny’s mother’s home and his ex-wife’s home – with his children inside – and that Danny would then be tracked down and shot dead, adding “I’m a millionaire. I ain’t stopping until your dead.”
The trial of ten people – seven men from London and three women from Plymouth – continued today (January 29) at Winchester Crown Court. Seven of the ten are accused of 38-year-old Danny Cahalane’s murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter.
Lead prosecutor Joanna Martin KC previously told the jury that Danny, who died on May 3, 2025 following an attack on his home in Lipson Road, Plymouth in the early hours of February 21, 2025, was a “drug dealer in Plymouth who owed a large amount of money to another drug dealer further up the chain of command”.
Danny admitted to police he had also gambled with the profits, including money which was meant to have gone to a drugs boss, named in court as Ryan Kennedy, also known as ‘Frost’. The court has previously been told that Frost, from London, is believed to currently be in Dubai.
Police on scene guard following acid attack incident in Lipson Road, Plymouth(Image: Carl Eve/PlymouthLive)
The jury were told that during January 2025, in the weeks and days leading up to the alleged kidnapping attempt in Oreston on January 19, 2025 and the acid attack at Danny’s home in Lipson Road on February 21, there were a number of calls and messages to and from him and Ryan Kennedy/Frost over the money Danny owed. .
Junior prosecutor Richard Posner read out the messages which had been recovered by police, voicing the messages from Frost, while police investigator Det Sgt Ed Carr read Danny’s responses.
One of the exchanges on January 7, 2025 saw Frost write: “Mate I promise to god and everybody life today is that last day of me listening to your bulls***. You will see after today I’m not joking about. Playing around with my f****** dough you f***ing lost your mind. you going in the air if you don’t pay toady, I swear to go. Three months of bulls***, me listening, got big guys gonna have to pay otherwise they taking action on me today.”
He warned Danny that he had put him “84k in the red” adding that Danny had “got me falling out with close friends”. He explained: “I look like you to them, told them everything you told me. Like a proper joke – a man that don’t have his s*** together”.
Frost warned “I’ll start throwing money left right and centre – think you can f*** up my relationships. Everything you say, never solid, I promise to God this aint a threat, it’s a fact – tomo I aint hearing anything. You flipping my dough, you f***ing mental bro. I just need this out of my life and you out of my life you’re a bad mess, tommo it’s finished. “
Highlighting the hierarchy Frost is subject to he reveals “Mate I’m under severe pressure, you’re f***ing p***take, they coming tomo, early”.
On January 16 Frost was more succinct, telling Danny: “Your gonna die. F*** off.”
In response Danny asked what he is “on about”.
Frost replied: “You jus need to die what the f*** do you mean what am I on about you f***ing idiot. I promise to God I’m not paying this bill, jus rather get you turnt off you f***ing messy c***. you will see, don’t message again, you done me 80k. They coming up there now, anyway, I’m gonna give them extra 40k to come and take your eyes out your head. You will see you f***ing tramp, done me 80k”
By January 17 Frost asked “are you gonna link these guys or are you robbing me, let me know”.
Later the same day Frost told Danny he’s a “grown man can’t get your bills in I told you already two weeks. You violated me, remember, all I don’t was try help you gonna see mate, I won’t stop throwing money about until you get it”.
By the next morning Frost wrote “I’m just paying someone the bill to get you done, on my life I aint message you again, I’ll find you by tomo”.
The Quay, Oreston(Image: Google Street View)
On January 19, 2025 – minutes after an alleged kidnapping incident in The Quay, Oreston – Frost wrote: “Close call? Mate I’m telling they gonna burn gaffes down and your gonna die. Your mums house going a light tonight as well. And your girls. And your gonna die. I’m a millionaire. I ain’t stopping until your dead.”
Danny continued to insist he was going to sort the money he owed Frost, but this did not impress Frost who replied “your talk means nothing. You spoke s***, that much times. Your gonna die. Paying other people first, flipping my dough. Get my money today. I’m gonna light up your baby mums house in a hour. I don’t give a f***. I’m gonna ruin your life. Owe me £120k”
In response to yet another promise, Frost replied “F***ing cheeky c***. I’m not waiting no more days They house getting lit up. So tell your people give your money.
“You have three hours to get my money, otherwise your baby mums house is going up in flames with them inside and your mums house and next time they gonna just shoot you soon as they see you. They been up there days, waiting, you’re gonna die.”
Referencing the alleged kidnap attempt outside Paris Wilson’s house on The Quay, Oreston, Frost continued “God loves you because if they grabbed you I told them to kill you if you never coughed the money up within 12 hours. Put you in the dirt. Mate, I’m getting houses burnt.”
He said Danny had had “enough chances” adding “you need to die now”. He reminded Danny he owed him £120,000, warning “Need all of it otherwise your mums house going a light, your baby mums, all today, I don’t care, I’m not waiting for nothing. Gonna attack you until bill clear or until your dead.
Paris Wilson – Danny Cahalane’s ex-wife – attends Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on April 24, 2025(Image: Carl Eve/PlymouthLive)
“You gonna get pinged on sight next time. Tell my Bro to come help you. He will get shot as well.”
Frost added: “You’ll 100 percent be shot by end of week, hopefully you die, until balance is clear. Gave you enough chances. I don’t care what you got to say. Start calling some bits on for cash. Otherwise your family will get hurt.
“Don’t worry, I’m turning up at your mum’s today as well. I don’t give a f***”.
Frost even demanded that Danny “start telling family members to fork out, start asking there friends for money” adding “I WANT ALL MY MONEY”.
The messages continued, with Frost telling Danny “Your a clown – chance after chance, you think you can clear people before me, flip my money, mow me money bros, listen I don’t need the money, just need you dead or one of your family members to die. Then I can sleep. I hate you. Die pussy.”
Danny appears to ask Frost for three more days, but Frost replied “Well mate, put your foot down today with people or you don’t love your family cos they gonna be crying today.”
He told Danny his word “mean s***” and tells him “I’ll ruin your life”, adding “you got lucky today”.
Danny Cahalane and Paris Wilson(Image: Facebook)
Over the next few days, the message back and forth remains in a similar vein with Danny promising he is about to get the money and hand it over to Frost and Frost continuing to say he does not believe him and he was going to face retribution.
At one point Frost told Danny: “You owe me 120k. 44 + 42 + 46, it’s 132. Round it to 120.”
He told Danny “I swear to god I ain’t gonna stop until I have everything. I won’t speak I’ll just do [it]. Please not pay me tomorrow 7pm both addresses they gonna be there on time and there knocking so you better face the music.”
On January 24 Danny said his mother was dying and could “drop down dead” at any moment and he’s going to pay Frost, claiming he has “19 minimum”. Frost replied “you say same s***” before adding “but only person is to blame is yourself”.
By January 30 all of Danny’s claims that he was going to send money is met with replies of “f*** off” or “your chatting s***” before Frost wrote “need you out of my life”.
Following a phone call, Frost added: “Alright, cool, let’s go to war. F*** off. Keep the money you f****** idiot.”
The pair engage in a handful more messages on January 31 and then there is silence until February 10, when Danny sends a long message to Frost telling him he has “about 11 bags to my name, I got 6500 of it. I’m gonna have 10 in a couple of days max”.
He told Frost: “I’m making money now so I can get it paid off, but I swear to you on my mums life believe what you want.
“On my mum’s life bro I’ll get that 10 there asap and we can reason after that. The back and forth is long bro. I’m paying you. I’ve took the f****** p***. I’ve been on my a*** but I’m making money and I promise you I’m gonna be throwing money your way to get this done. It’s the only headache in my life, Its’ embarrassing bro. I promise you I’ll get that to size on next couple days”.
In response, Frost merely wrote: “Keep it”.
The jury were told there were no more exchanges found by police after Frost’s final two words. The court heard yesterday [January 28] that Danny told police from his hospital bed in Bristol that he was so broke he could not even afford the rent on his home.
Jury shown grim computer generated images of fatal injuries
The jury were also shown a series of computer generated images showing the injuries Danny Cahalane suffered from the acid attack. Dr Amanda Jeffery, a Home Office forensic pathologist gave evidence from the witness box, explaining the various marks and corrosive injuries to his face, legs, arms and torso.
She explained that some of the lacerations were actually caused by surgeons who had to cut Danny’s arm and leg after the burnt skin had begun to contract, potentially reducing blood flow. The image of Danny’s head showed how he had corrosive burns across the entire left side of his face, his nose, forehead, lips and chin. He had suffered acid injuries to both eyes, resulting in the removal of his left eye.
His left leg and foot also suffered corrosive burns, exposing muscle and tendons, as did his left arm which had been burnt from the shoulder down to the back of his hand. The acid had also dripped down over his chest, and down his side, and over his stomach, causing deep burns and discolouration to his skin. The jury previously was told that when he was attacked in his bedroom while asleep he had only been wearing a pair of boxer shorts.
Danny Cahalane died in hospital(Image: Devon and Cornwall Police)
Some of the worst burns were to his left shoulder and down the left side of his back. Dr Jeffery explained that much of the burnt tissue on Danny’s body was effectively dead and had to be removed. She noted he had undergone a number of surgical operations in an attempt to mitigate the loss of skin, but also to carry out numerous grafts to replaces areas where the skin had “completely died”.
She confirmed that Danny had died as a result of a deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism – effectively a blood clot which had gone to his heart and restricted oxygen to his lungs. Despite medical intervention, it proved to be fatal and he was pronounced deceased on May 3, 2025, around 10 weeks after the attack.
Court hears Danny Cahalane had a number of convictions – including for drug supply
The jury also were told by lead prosecutor Joanna Martin KC that Danny had a number of convictions to his name. These included arrests and convictions for theft, burglary, assaults, possession of drugs – both cannabis and cocaine – between 2004 and 2012.
She said on January 6, 2012, at Plymouth Crown Court, Danny was sentenced to eight years for two counts of conspiracy to supply cocaine and money laundering. The jury heard that in 2009 police found 200gms of cocaine and a hydraulic press which bore his fingerprints. Officers found a further quantity of cocaine in his garden shed and £2,200 in cash.
Danny Cahalane pictured in 2012, when he was jailed for drugs offences(Image: Devon and Cornwall Police)
Ms Martin KC said Danny was released on licence on on May 22, 2015.
On February 2020, Danny was stopped by police and was seen to discard a package containing cocaine. A further quantity of cocaine was found at his gym, along with more than £40,000 in cash. He was charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine, and two other offences of money laundering. The jury were told that on January 6, 2022 Danny was handed a prison sentence of 12 months – but this was suspended for 12 months. At the time of these offences, he was living at the Lipson Road address.
Ms Martin KC said on September 24, 2022, Danny was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply after being stopped by police and found to be in possession of £2,500 in cash and a phone with text messages suggestive drug dealing. However, this case was not prosecuted.
On February 2, 2024, Danny was stopped in a car by police, in the company of Ryan Kennedy/Frost and a man called Paul Amponah. Danny was in possession of a small amount of cannabis and received a warning.
A total of 10 defendants – seven men from London and three women from Plymouth – are on trial, with seven of these accused of Mr Cahalane’s murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter, on May 3, 2025.
They are Paris Wilson, 35, of The Quay, Plymouth; Jude Hill, 43, of Wantage Gardens, Plymouth; Abdulrasheed Adedoja, 23, of Neasden, London; Ramarnee Bakas-Sithole, 23, of Islington, London; Israel Augustus, aged 26, of Tottenham, London; Isanah Sungum, 22, of Edmonton, London; and Brian Kalemba, 23, of Barking, London.
Five of the defendants are charged with the attempted kidnapping and attempted grievous bodily harm of Mr Cahalane on January 19 2025, at The Quay in Oreston, Plymouth. They are Adedoja, Bakas-Sithole and Wilson, along with Jean Mukuna, 23, and Arrone Mukuna, 25, both of Camden, London.
All ten deny the charges.
The trial continues
