The court at Winchester has handed lengthy prison terms to four people convicted over a brutal acid attack on 38-year-old father-of-two Danny Cahalane at his home in Lipson Road, Plymouth. The attack, on the night of 21 February 2025, left Mr Cahalane with catastrophic corrosive injuries; he died in hospital in Bristol on 3 May 2025, some ten weeks after the assault.
Sentences and convictions
After an 18-week trial, two men were convicted of murder and given life sentences. Two others, including Mr Cahalane’s ex-wife, were convicted of manslaughter and related offences. Sentences passed at Winchester Crown Court are:
| Defendant | Conviction | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Israel Augustus, 27 (Pulford Road, London) | Murder; also pleaded guilty to drug and weapons offences | Life; minimum term 30 years (earliest parole after 28 years, 210 days including time served) |
| Abdul-Rasheed Adedoja, 23 (North Circular Road, Neasden) | Murder | Life; minimum term 31 years (earliest parole after 29 years, 255 days) |
| Paris Wilson, 35 (The Quay, Plymouth) | Manslaughter; attempted kidnap | 9 years 8 months (eight years for manslaughter consecutive with 12 months for attempted kidnap) |
| Ramarnee Bakas, 24 (Junction Road, London) | Manslaughter | 10 years |
What the court heard
Prosecutors told the court the assault was linked to a significant drug debt owed by Mr Cahalane to an organised crime group. Evidence presented during the trial found that Mr Cahalane was attacked while he slept. Two men entered his home and doused him with a corrosive substance, leaving him with severe injuries.
"Danny suffered significant corrosive injuries that had he sur..."
The judge described the injuries as horrific and noted the attack was driven by his outstanding debt to criminal associates. The court was told Ms Wilson supplied information about Mr Cahalane’s whereabouts to organisers involved in orchestrating the incident, and that there had been a prior attempted kidnap the month before from outside her home.
Local impact and context
The case has reverberated locally given the circumstances: the attack occurred at a residential address in Lipson while Mr Cahalane’s young daughter was asleep upstairs. The conviction of a Plymouth resident for her role in the events will be of particular interest to the city where the family lived.
- Attack date: 21 February 2025
- Death: 3 May 2025
- Location: Lipson Road, Plymouth
- Case concluded at: Winchester Crown Court
Court reporting recorded displays of emotion as sentences were announced. The outcome closes a complex investigation that spanned several months and involved police inquiries in Plymouth and beyond.
The case highlights the deadly consequences of organised crime disputes being played out in residential communities. Local agencies and residents will be watching for any follow-up policing or safeguarding responses following the convictions.
Journalists and members of the public wishing to review official court papers or sentencing remarks can consult the Crown Court record at Winchester for the full judgment and remarks by The Honourable Ms Justice Norton.
