Friday 16 October 2026
Morning Edition
ZOTPAPER

News without the noise

ZOTPAPER
World

Bullets hit microwave and wall in shooting targeting young child, court hears

Gang opened fire at wrong home in Bridgend in retaliation over stolen drugs, Cardiff Crown Court told

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
A woman and her son were asleep when bullets struck a microwave and wall inside their home in Pyle, Bridgend, during a gang shooting that targeted a young child but hit the wrong property, Cardiff Crown Court has heard. No one was injured in the attack, which occurred in the early hours of 22 September 2025.

A jury at Cardiff Crown Court was shown footage of two men firing a 9mm pistol at the property before fleeing on an electric motorbike. The court heard the incident was carried out in retaliation against alleged drug dealer Daniel O'Callaghan, after the gang believed he had taken drugs worth thousands of pounds from a hiding place in Guernsey.

The video, filmed by the two men, shows the pistol being pointed at the house before two shots are fired, then the men running away. Doorbell and security cameras in the area captured the getaway. A carrier bag containing a hoodie, two sets of gloves and two face masks was later found in a shed.

Kian Darkes and Daniel Clarke, both 21 and from the Bridgend area, admit having a firearm and ammunition in a public place but deny possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. Callum Pearson, Kian Darkes, Daniel Clarke and Kyle Long are all on trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

The jury was told the gang dealt drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, on the Channel Islands and across south Wales. The court previously heard police discovered a photograph of a child on a mobile phone belonging to one of the men on trial, along with text messages discussing targeting the youngster.

§

Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The case highlights the risk of innocent bystanders being harmed in organised crime violence, with a home being shot at while a woman and child slept.
  • It underscores the reach of drug trafficking networks operating across the Channel Islands and south Wales.
  • The targeting of a young child as part of a gang dispute raises serious questions about the escalation of criminal tactics.

Background

This shooting occurred in the village of Pyle in Bridgend county borough, south Wales. The trial at Cardiff Crown Court involves four men accused in connection with the attack. The prosecution alleges the shooting was motivated by a drug debt or theft, with the intended target being a known drug dealer. The incident forms part of a wider investigation into drug supply networks operating across the UK and the Channel Islands.

Key Perspectives

Prosecution: The gang deliberately targeted a child in retaliation for stolen drugs, showing a reckless disregard for life by firing at a residential property. Defence: Kian Darkes and Daniel Clarke admit firearm possession but argue they lacked the specific intent needed for the more serious charge of endangering life. The cases of the other defendants are ongoing. Community: Residents of Pyle face the shock and fear of organised crime violence spilling into their neighbourhood, with an innocent family caught in the crossfire.

What to Watch

  • The outcome of the trial at Cardiff Crown Court and whether convictions result.
  • Sentencing if the defendants are found guilty, and what message it sends about gun crime in Wales.
  • Police and community responses to preventing similar incidents involving young children.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

How we workSubscribe