Acid attack drug dealer 'could not afford rent'

A drug dealer who was fatally attacked with sulphuric acid told police after the incident that he was so broke he could not afford the rent on his home.

Danny Cahalane, 38, was at his Plymouth home on 21 February last year when he was attacked over a £120,000 debt to drugs kingpin Ryan Kennedy, Winchester Crown Court heard.

But Cahalane, who died from his injuries about 10 weeks later, told police from his hospital bed that he owed £30,000 in gambling debts and was behind on his rent, saying: "I haven't got no money any more."

Ten people are on trial accused of offences including murder, manslaughter, attempted kidnapping and being part of a drugs supply gang.

The court has heard that Cahalane had been threatened with his life by Kennedy, known as Frost, over the drugs debt.

Cahalane told police he had fallen asleep in his bed on the night of the attack, with his daughter asleep in an adjoining room.

"The next thing I remember I was being woken up and attacked," he said.

"I just remember two guys attacking me. I saw a screwdriver on the floor and picked it up and stabbed one.

"I don't know if I had acid thrown at me at that point, I just remember walking down the stairs screaming "call the police".

"They [the attackers] said "Where's the Ps [money]" and I said "I ain't got no money" and I was screaming and they left by the back door. I locked the back door."

The court heard he then ran to the front of the house, but a man was waiting for him.

"I tried to escape through the front door. I was at the front door and he raised his arm up and threw the acid over me," Cahalane said.

"I was screaming, I knew it was acid, it was burning."

An ambulance crew gave him morphine before he was taken to hospital where he died on 3 May 2025.

The court heard before he died he told police he had been considering a change in lifestyle.

"I had an epiphany this year, I just thought this life ain't worth it if it does do anything for you," he said from his hospital bed.

"I just wanted a peaceful life and have structure with my daughter, she is my world."

Paris Wilson, 35, and Jude Hill, 43, of Plymouth, and Israel Augustus, 26, Isanah Sungum, 22, Abdulrasheed Adedoja, 23, Ramarnee Bakas, 23, and Brian Kalemba, 23, all from London, are charged with murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter.

Wilson, Adedoja, Bakas, Augustus, Sungum and Kalemba have also been charged with being part of an organised crime gang, along with Jenna Said, 39, of Plymouth, and Arrone Mukuna, 25, and Jean Mukuna, 23, both from London.

Adedoja, Bakas, Wilson, Jean Mukuna and Arrone Mukuna are all also charged with attempted kidnapping and attempted grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent.

They all deny the charges and the trial continues.

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