Key Points
- A gang thought to be associated with south Wales and Guernsey discharged their gunshots into the house located in Pyle, Bridgend, at the early hours of 22 September 2025.
- Prosecution informed the Cardiff Crown Court that the real target was a child related to Daniel O’Callaghan due to missing Class A drugs in Guernsey.
- The targeted house was alleged to be a wrong one and has no association with Mr. O’Callaghan.
- Tracy Addis was sleeping downstairs while her son was sleeping upstairs, none of them got hurt.
- The bullets entered through the hallway into the bedroom in which Tracy was sleeping; a bullet was embedded in the kitchen microwave while another penetrated through the canvas painting before lodging itself in the rear wall.
- The court was informed that one group member allegedly scouted the area three hours prior to carrying out the shooting attack.
- The video shown to the jury allegedly showed two individuals discharging a 9mm gunshots into the property and then left on an electric motorbike.
- Kian Darkes messaged Kyle Long saying he was going to “terrorise” a child related to Mr. O’Callaghan; Mr. Long allegedly replied “lmao”.
- The photograph of the child was allegedly recovered from Mr.
Wales (Wales Times) October 17, 2026 – An organised crime group allegedly planned to “terrorise” a young child in a dispute over missing drugs, but fired shots at the wrong house in Pyle, Bridgend, a jury at uk/local/cardiff/">Cardiff Crown Court has heard.
As reported by WalesOnline, the alleged attack took place in the early hours of 22 September 2025 at a property in the Pyle area of Bridgend. The prosecution says the group had links to south Wales and Guernsey and believed a man named Daniel O’Callaghan was responsible for Class A drugs going missing on the Channel Island.
Andrew Jones KC, opening the case for the prosecution, told the jury that the group intended to carry out a “retribution attack” at a property linked to Mr O’Callaghan. Instead, he said, shots were fired at the home of Tracy Addis, who was asleep downstairs while her son slept upstairs.
According to WalesOnline, Mr Jones said bullets travelled through the hallway and into the room where Ms Addis had been sleeping. One bullet struck a microwave in the kitchen, while another passed through a canvas picture before hitting the rear wall with significant force.
The BBC reported that two bullets were later recovered from the door and wall of the house, which it said was unconnected with Mr O’Callaghan. Neither Ms Addis nor her son was injured.
What Did the Court Hear About the Alleged Target?
The prosecution alleges that the group believed Mr O’Callaghan had been involved in an operation supplying drugs in Guernsey, and that something had gone “disastrously wrong” after drugs disappeared.
As reported by WalesOnline, Mr Jones told the jury that Class A drugs were the “backbone” of the early-morning attack on what he described as “the wrong people and the wrong property”. He added: “They are a valuable commodity for these drug dealers. That’s why when things go wrong things turn nasty.”
The BBC reported that the gang was alleged to have distributed narcotics, including cocaine and ecstasy, across the Channel Islands and southern Wales. The court was told the group believed Mr O’Callaghan had stolen drugs valued in the thousands of pounds from a concealed location in Guernsey.
Mr Jones detailed a series of messages said to have been exchanged between Kian Darkes and Mr O’Callaghan, and between Mr Darkes and Kyle Long. WalesOnline reported that Mr Darkes had tried to contact Mr O’Callaghan on Facebook but received no response.
In messages quoted by WalesOnline, Mr Darkes allegedly told Mr Long that Mr O’Callaghan was ignoring him. Mr Long allegedly replied: “If he f***s up at all he will pay for every penny. He ain’t short on coin 100%.”
Mr Darkes was also said to have messaged Mr O’Callaghan:
“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.”
WalesOnline reported that Mr Darkes told the Guernsey-based man he feared he would be killed over Mr O’Callaghan’s alleged actions. In further messages, he allegedly said: “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.”
He allegedly added:
“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 Mr Darkes that he had not done “f*** all wrong”, according to WalesOnline. Mr Jones told the jury: “It’s clear that something has gone badly wrong on the island and it’s causing Darkes to panic.”
The prosecution said Mr Darkes believed he had been “double-crossed” and that Mr O’Callaghan’s alleged actions would have a severe impact on him.
What Evidence Was Presented About the Shooting?
The court heard that one member of the alleged organised crime group scoped the area approximately three hours before the shots were fired.
As reported by WalesOnline, Mr Darkes allegedly sent a message to Mr Long saying he was going “to terrorise” a child linked to Mr O’Callaghan. Mr Long allegedly replied “lmao”. A photograph of the child was subsequently recovered from Mr Darkes’s phone, the court heard.
The BBC reported that jurors were shown footage of two individuals firing a 9mm handgun at the house before escaping on an electric motorcycle. The broadcaster said the footage depicted the shooting and the suspects’ departure.
WalesOnline separately reported that a container, gloves and face coverings were later discovered in a shed at the home of Kyle Long. The court heard that DNA analysis allegedly matched defendants Kian Darkes and Daniel Clarke, and that gunshot residue was detected on the retrieved items.
South Wales Police had earlier confirmed that officers responded after a resident reported hearing a loud bang outside a property on Maes Glas, Pyle. As reported by ITV News, police said damage was found to the front door and two bullets were recovered at the scene.
ITV News reported that two men from the Bryntirion area of Bridgend were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Swansea Bay News later reported that Kian Darkes and Kyle Long appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court and were remanded in custody.
Who Is on Trial and What Do They Deny?
Five people are standing trial at Cardiff Crown Court over their alleged roles in the organised crime group: 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.
As reported by WalesOnline, Mr Darkes, Mr Long, Mr Pearson and Mr Clarke deny conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent. Ms Evans and Mr Long deny conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, namely MDMA and cocaine.
The BBC reported that Mr Darkes and Mr Clarke have admitted possessing a firearm and ammunition in a public place, but deny possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. The trial continues.
The allegations remain matters for the court to determine. None of the defendants has been convicted in relation to the charges they deny.
Background of the Development
The shooting occurred on 22 September 2025 at a property on Maes Glas in Pyle, a village in Bridgend County Borough. South Wales Police said at the time that residents reported hearing a loud bang and that officers later found damage to a front door and two bullets.
The case returned to public attention in October 2026 when prosecutors opened their case at Cardiff Crown Court. The alleged motive centres on a dispute connected to a drugs operation in Guernsey, with the prosecution alleging that Mr O’Callaghan was blamed for Class A drugs going missing from a hiding place on the island.
The case has drawn attention because prosecutors say the alleged retaliation was directed towards a child, while the gunfire struck an unrelated household. The court has heard that the occupants escaped physical injury despite bullets entering the property.
Prediction: How Could This Affect Pyle Residents?
For Pyle residents, the case is likely to increase concern about firearms incidents, organised crime and safety in residential streets. The alleged use of a handgun at a occupied home, even where no one was injured, may prompt residents to expect a continued visible police presence and closer scrutiny of suspicious activity in the area.
If the trial results in convictions, it could reinforce confidence that South Wales Police and the Crown Prosecution Service treat gun crime and drug-related violence as priority matters. It may also encourage more residents to report unusual behaviour, damaged property or suspected criminal activity at an early stage.
For local families, the case may underline the importance of home-security measures such as secure doors, external lighting and CCTV, while also raising anxiety about the potential for innocent households to be caught up in disputes they have no connection to. The outcome of the trial will be central to establishing what happened and whether those accused bear criminal responsibility.
