Gang Accused of Firing Shots at Wrong Home in Revenge Plot
Court hears that a house in Bridgend was targeted in a mistaken identity shooting, with bullets hitting a wall and microwave while a woman and child slept inside.
Two men fired a 9mm pistol at a home in Pyle, Bridgend, in what a court heard was a revenge attack on the wrong target, with bullets striking a wall and a microwave. A woman and her son were asleep inside the property during the incident in the early hours of September 22, 2025, but neither sustained injuries.
Footage shown to a jury at Cardiff Crown Court depicted two individuals firing at the house before fleeing on an electric motorbike. The prosecution alleges the shooting was carried out in retaliation for a belief within a gang that Daniel O'Callaghan had stolen thousands of pounds worth of drugs from a hiding place in Guernsey. The court was previously informed that the gang was involved in distributing drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, across the Channel Islands and south Wales.
A photograph of a child was discovered on a mobile phone belonging to one of the defendants, along with text messages discussing targeting a youngster, the jury heard. Kian Darkes and Daniel Clarke, both 21, have admitted to possessing a firearm and ammunition in a public place but deny possessing a firearm with the intent to endanger life.
Security and doorbell camera footage captured the two men making their escape after the incident. A carrier bag containing a hoodie, gloves, and face masks was later found in a shed at the Bridgend home of an alleged gang member, Kyle Long. Gunshot residue found on these items matched DNA from Darkes and Clarke.
Following the shooting, O'Callaghan reportedly messaged Darkes stating he had not taken the drugs and questioned the incident. The trial continues, with other defendants, including Long, 40, and Callum Pearson, 24, denying conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent, while Jade Evans, 40, denies conspiracy to supply a Class A drug.