Texts between dad, 38, killed in acid attack and ex

Winchester Crown Court jury shown messages between Danny Cahalane and Paris Wilson in weeks before alleged kidnap attempt in Plymouth

A murder trial has heard messages from the former wife of an acid attack victim accused of his murder.

Ten people – seven men from London and three women from Plymouth – are on trial over the death of Danny Cahalane. Seven of the accused – including his ex-wife, Paris Wilson – face charges of murdering the 38-year-old, alongside an alternative charge of manslaughter.

Lead prosecutor Joanna Martin KC had previously told jurors at Winchester Crown Court that Danny passed away on May 3, 2025, following an attack where Danny was hit with acid at his Lipson Road residence in Plymouth during the early hours of February 21, 2025. The court was told he 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, reports Plymouth Live.

Yesterday, (January 30), jurors were shown numerous text exchanges between Danny and his ex-wife Paris, one of those charged with his murder, covering topics including childcare arrangements, maintenance payments and weekend custody plans in the weeks prior to January 19, 2025, the date when an alleged abduction attempt occurred against the 38 year old outside Paris’ home on The Quay, Oreston. In a tense exchange, Paris warns Danny to “genuinely be careful who you disrespect”, cautioning him that his behaviour could risk “you risk losing everything because you’ve not been behaving correctly to people.”

On January 14 she tells him not to waste the new year, reminding him he had his own business. She wrote: “I’ve seen you do 1,000 burpees, save £100,000. I’ve seen so much more than what you are lately”.

She goes on to tell him what time he should attend her home on The Quay on January 19 to drop off a person, and she tells him to “be there for 10[am]”.

The jury were then shown a series of exchanges between Paris and her mother, Karen Wilson, beginning on January 3, 2025. Asked by her mother what time an individual will be back with Paris, she replied, “I think he’s keeping her so Frost doesn’t go near him, lol”.

Two days later, she messages her mother, “LOLLLL Frost just rang me hahaha”, before adding, “Dan supposed to pay him”.

On January 8 she asked her mother for the address of Danny’s then girlfriend, adding “Also Frost has told me he could make me millions if I can a harbour master to ignore a container coming in.” She suggests the harbourmaster was “always moaning” he did not have money, but told her mother “we don’t get container ships here”. She claimed “he would a million percent turn a blind eye, but we only get wet and dry bulk, no containers. I’m gutted, lol”.

Asked by her mother “What about a fishing boat?”, Paris replied: “No, it’s coming from South America or Mexico”. She added: “I did say we have a dry bulk that comes to Victoria wharf once a month that takes china clay to Mexico but he said when it’s not a container it’s risky. If it’s a container someone else orders it/ someone else loads it/ someone else collects it and the shop crew don’t know. If it’s on a dry bulk the crew would need to know.”

Karen Wilson asked if Paris had ‘googled’ Danny’s girlfriend to find her address, she replied: “Yeah. Like Frost is losing his mind. EH means over a tonne mum lol. We can’t go near s***”. She continued: “He’s saying I could have £1k each box and so could the harbourmaster” adding “That’s £100,000 every eight weeks”.

Later the same day Paris told her mother “Frost is saying he will pay me if I find where he is today”, before suggesting she and her mother “go for a drive” as she knew Danny’s car and his girlfriend’s car.

She explained: “He [Frost] said he will pay me a few grand and double what Dan owes you and give you an oz. So 600 and a oz. Lol. That’s Turkey paid for all of us”. She added: “He’s minted and it’s him paying, it’s his boss. They can’t handle any more of his lies.”

Referring to Danny’s suicide attempt in September 2024, Paris told her mother she “never thought he would top himself”, adding “He’s in so much debt – like so much”.

Paris, talking about Danny’s girlfriend, said: “They said they’d grab her and get her to take them to him. And she’s a c*** tbh mum so I don’t care”.

When her mother suggests getting Danny to go to a friend’s address on Mount Gould Road, Paris responded: “That’s sly.” She then noted another person at the property, adding, “He’s done nothing. I’m not that savage, I’d sooner set Dan up here.” She said she was “worried about my karma, but at least nobody but Dan gets hurt and he did f*** massively with my life”.

Paris concluded that she would be home when Danny delivers the person as per their arrangement, adding, “He’s always here like 20 past anyways, and quite a lot of people know roughly where I am, and Tanisha said Taylor [surname redacted] was saying to people I live in Oreston”.

The following day, Paris told her mother she was going to decorate her bedroom during January, adding “and then I need to plan getting to Turkey in February before Dan has his limbs cut off”.

On January 12, she told her mother, “Imagine only having £60 to your name, and you used to have two Rolexes and over £100k in cash savings. Wow. Downhill.” She later says that Danny had been on Snapchat “sharing pics of his bed and house saying he wants a cleaner”.

The following day, she told her mother, “I’m just p***ed with Dan posting pictures of some big house he’s in. Looks nice as well. Asking for a cleaner when he’s paid me £60 maintenance since before Christmas.”

On January 14, she told her mother, “Frost message me last night saying get that bum to call me, he’s dead.” She explained that Frost had “covered the money to his people but it’s now HIS money and he wants it and he just can’t handle being disrespected”. She said Frost has asked her to message Danny about how much to pay him and when.

The jury heard a 999 call from Dave Huddy at 10.05am on January 19, 2025, telling police he had just witnessed three black men chasing a white guy in a car in The Quay, Oreston, while he was walking his dog. He explained he had taken a couple of photos of the car and the men who had headed off after the white man who was driving his car towards Plymstock Road. He described the car which he had seen the black men get out of as a blue Hyundai and the white man’s as a small Ford.

Mr Huddy told the call handler: “They started approaching him and matey had some fear in his eyes” adding “Matey was s****ing himself”.

Giving evidence from the witness box Mr Huddy told the jury the three men in the car, which was parked at the Plymouth Yacht Club building, did not appear to be communicating with each other and instead “seemed to be looking out the window”.

He said that when the men got out of the car, one of them “seemed to have something inside his jacket” adding that it “looked like he was carrying or concealing something”. In answer to questions from junior prosecutor Richard Posner, Mr Huddy said he got the sense the man was carrying something under his jacket by “the way he was holding himself”, indicating how the man’s right hand was on the left side of his chest.

He said two of the black men advanced towards the white man’s car as he prepared to get into it. He said this man started to reverse before then racing forwards past the men, adding that he “went through at a fair lick”. He said the black men then all went back to their car and drove off initially in the opposite direction, but then turned around and followed the white man’s car towards Plymstock.

Lead prosecutor Joanna Martin KC then took the jury back to messages sent between Danny Cahalane and his ex-wife, Paris Wilson, a short while after the alleged kidnap attempt.

At around 10.13am on January 19, 2025, having dropped off a person at The Quay, Oreston, as per their agreement, Danny messaged Paris Wilson saying, “I can’t believe it”. She replied, “Who was that? Dan, don’t bring your s*** here. This isn’t that kind of place”.

He replied: “Paris you know exactly who it was” adding “telling people my address and whereabouts is wild”.

She angrily responded: “What the f*** are you on about? I could have given your stupid girlfriend’s address ages ago.” She went on to say he was “so paranoid to even suggest that, I genuinely can’t believe it”, claiming she was going to go to the police.

Danny, unconvinced, asked her: “Paris, how can anyone know where I was at yours at that time?” to which she answered, “I don’t f***ing know but everyone knows where I live that to that silly blonde whore Taylor. I’m not saying anything in messages about her because I’m going to police and I’m telling them everything.”

In a long and angry post, she told Danny she knew he owed “various people money”, adding “if I wanted to have you hurt or nicked I’d have done that three years ago. I could set you up with the police easy. I had them in the house last year. I could’ve set you up to be robbed by your mates weeks after we split.”

She told Danny: “I promise you now I’m done covering for you. There isn’t many black guys in Oreston so the minute I see one, I don’t care if it’s innocent, I don’t care your place, Michaela’s [Danny’s girlfriend’s] place and your mum’s address all getting shared and I can promise you now you’ll never see this little girl again”.

Danny went on to accuse Paris of talking to “the guy” [meaning Frost], adding “he tells me you tell him things about me, then at 10am they there and you was acting weird. Paris I know you hate me but please don’t be talking about me to no-one, it makes no sense.”

After Paris called Danny “insane”, telling him “you’re literally mad the way you live”, Danny insists “all this is gonna be sorted by mid week”.

Unconvinced, Paris began to make a series of threats, including stopping Danny seeing his daughter, going to the police and her intention to post messages on social media, telling him “everyone is going to know you’re a grass, I’m literally going to post it and message everyone”. She added: “I’m not being used as a cover for your bull****”.

When he asked her what she means, she replied: “You’re trying to say I’ve done this? If I’d of done it I’d of done it ages ago. Easier than this. For money. And I’d of included Michaela.”

Danny continued to insist Paris and their daughter were safe, but she tells him “I’ll never forgive you for this. I’m getting hold of your mum”.

She added: “Tell your guy to get hold of me and tell me I’m safe. Otherwise I’m telling the police, your mum, Michaela. I had your back when we were together. I’ve kept your address private for a while now and your dumb girlfriends. I’ve had the police in my apartment. I’ve been offered money for your address and like I said friends wanted to rob you after we split and I’ve been silent and you’ve shown your colours now so it’s time I showed mine.”

She told Danny that “four years ago” he could run miles, had a gym, family holidays, savings and had “a proper life”. She told him “Even after short went wrong I had your back and I literally saved your ass from prison and we were going to London to get you out of this city.

“I’ve had your best interests since the day we met and I’ve been a wife to you since the day you got out of prison. I still am now. And all you do is s*** on me. It’s not about ‘us’ – I hate you. I’m worth 1,000 of you. Everything you touch turns rotten.”

Within a few minutes, Paris tell Danny: “How anyone knows my address is beyond me.”

Danny answered: “I have never given your address. Why the f*** would I”.

Paris replied: “I don’t know. But someone has and I don’t want to text too much about this kind of thing but I’ll find out who”

Danny appeared to then open up to Paris telling her 2024 was “the worst of my life, I lost everything again. My mum. Everything went wrong. I’m getting my shit together now though. This thing is the last to sort and I’m doing that. But I’ve been in a bad place. Not excusing being a c***. I’ve always been one of them. But’s I’ve not been me. You probably gonna use all this against me at some point down the line when we argue again, But I’m just being real.”

Paris replied: “I’m not the evil person you think I am. Think of all the things and times I could have made your life hell and I’ve not. I want you to face your demons – not people you owe money, your own demons and become a better person.”

By the late afternoon, Paris told Danny that parenting was “more than love” before telling him “Flipping people’s money and airing them is putting your child in danger”.

Danny then proposed resolving the situation by arranging a “link” [meeting] with the men at her property.

This prompted an irate response from Paris: “Two black guys who I do not know who were sent here because you own some guy money who’s being alright with me right now but he’s saying he ain’t leaving without his money and he will do whatever he has to do to get it. I’ve no choice but the police. And I don’t know where the hell my address go thrown in this, but you’ve told them to come back here and expected me to be cool with you? I’m on a war path.”

At approximately 6pm on 19 January, Paris forwarded Danny two of her publicly posted Snapchat messages. The first featured an image of a hand with text overlay reading: “If anyone knows where that loser of an ex of mine is, let me know I beg. Grass. Bumps people and now has had people come to my house and what’s he done? Drove off.”

The second image showed a hand with the caption: “And Michaela as well”.

While Danny questioned her decision to share these messages publicly, suggesting she shouldn’t involve the police when he was getting everything “sorted”, Paris responded: “You talk to me like s***. You’re horrible. And I hate you.”

Ten defendants – seven men from London and three women from Plymouth – are currently standing trial, with seven facing charges of Mr Cahalane’s murder and an alternative count of manslaughter, dating back to 3 May 2025.

The accused include 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 defendants face additional charges relating to the attempted kidnapping and attempted grievous bodily harm of Mr Cahalane on 19 January 2025, at The Quay in Oreston, Plymouth. These are Adedoja, Bakas-Sithole and Wilson, alongside Jean Mukuna, 23, and Arrone Mukuna, 25, both of Camden, London.

All ten have entered not guilty pleas.

The trial continues.