An organised crime group planning to "terrorise" a child fired shots through the front door of the wrong house in Pyle, Bridgend, a court has heard.
The group, which had links to south Wales and Guernsey, had intended to target a child linked to a man called Daniel O'Callaghan, who they believed was responsible for drugs going missing.
Instead, in the early hours of September 22, 2025, an innocent woman woke up to the sound of shots being fired at her home. Tracy Addis was asleep downstairs and her son was asleep upstairs at the time. Police were called and it was clear a firearm had been discharged through the front door.
Bullets travelled through hallway
Andrew Jones KC told Cardiff Crown Court how bullets travelled through the hallway and into the room where she was sleeping. One bullet struck a microwave in the kitchen, and another passed through a canvas picture before hitting the rear wall with significant force.
The court heard that one member of the organised crime group scoped the area three hours before the shots were fired.
During his opening submissions, Mr Jones told the jury how the organised crime group had established a drugs operation in Guernsey and were targeting the property in a "retribution attack" because they believed Mr O'Callaghan, with links to the property, was involved in drugs which had gone missing on the Channel Island.
Drugs described as 'backbone' of attack
Mr Jones said class A drugs were the backbone of the early morning attack on the wrong people and the wrong property in September 2025.
Mr Jones added: "They are a valuable commodity for these drug dealers. That's why when things go wrong things turn nasty."
Mr Jones explained how Mr O'Callaghan had been involved in the drug operation in Guernsey but told the jury it was clear that something had gone "disastrously wrong". He detailed a series of messages between Darkes and Mr O'Callaghan, as well as between Darkes and Long.
Darkes had been trying to get Mr O'Callaghan to reply to him on Facebook but had not received a response.
Messages reveal panic and threats
Darkes told Long about being ignored, and Long replied: "If he f***s up at all he will pay for every penny. He ain't short on coin 100%."
In messages to Mr O'Callaghan, Darkes said: "I need you to understand my life is in your hand with all this bro. Please don't make me fly over. My actual life is on the line now bro. Bro please don't do this to me. Ring me ffs."
Darkes told the Guernsey-based man he was worried he would be killed over Mr O'Callaghan's action. He continued: "This isn't good for me. I could get in deep s***. I know you have taken the wrong one. You don't realise how much you have got me panicking right now. I need all this sorted out bro.
"I hope you realise that I can die. I could get killed over this. I thought I could trust you."
Mr O'Callaghan eventually replied and told Darkes he didn't do "f*** all wrong". Referring to the messages, Mr Jones said: "It's clear that something has gone badly wrong on the island and it's causing Darkes to panic."
Mr Jones said Darkes believed he had been "double-crossed" and that Mr O'Callaghan's actions would have a severe impact on him. He then detailed how Darkes sent a message to Long saying he was going "to terrorise" a child linked to Mr O'Callaghan, to which Long replied "lmao". A photo of the child was subsequently recovered on Darkes' phone.
Jade Evans, 40, of Ystrad Fawr, Bridgend; Daniel Clarke, 21, of Llys Gwyn, Bridgend; Kian Darkes, 21, of Merlin Crescent, Cefn Glas, Bridgend; Kyle Long, 40, of Llangewydd Road, Bryntirion, Bridgend; and Callum Pearson, 24, of Ball Road, Llanrumney, Cardiff, are all standing trial at Cardiff Crown Court for their role in the organised crime group.
Darkes, Long, Pearson, and Clarke have pleaded not guilty and are standing trial for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent. Evans and Long pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely MDMA and cocaine.
