Ex-wife sentenced over deadly acid attack that killed former husband

A woman who orchestrated a fatal acid attack on her ex-husband has been jailed for nine years.

Paris Wilson, 35, was key in organizing the violent assault on drug dealer Danny Cahalane, during which sulfuric acid was thrown on him at his home in Lipson Road, Plymouth, on February 21, 2025.

The 38-year-old father of two spent several weeks in hospital and died from his injuries on May 3 last year. 

Before his death, he was able to tell police he believed his drugs "boss," referred to in the trial by his nickname Frost, had ordered the fatal attack, jurors were told.

On Thursday, Wilson was convicted of manslaughter and attempted kidnap but cleared of murder following a four-month trial at Winchester Crown Court.

Ramarnee Bakas, 24, of Islington, London, who was found guilty of manslaughter at the trial, was today jailed for 10 years.

Abdulrasheed Adedoja, 23, from Neasden, London, and Israel Augustus, 27, from Tottenham, London, were jailed for 31 and 30 years respectively after being found guilty of murder.

Wilson sobbed in the dock as her sentence was passed down. Ms. Justice Heather Norton told her she "knew an acid attack" was something that could take place.

She told Wilson that there were "two sides to her character," where she praised the defendant’s "hard-working" nature and efforts in bringing up her children.

But describing her involvement in the fatal attack, the judge said: "Whatever your motivation, whether money, security, or revenge, in that moment, your main concern was yourself."

Mr. Cahalane, who was a personal trainer drug dealer, owed around £120,000 to a crime boss based overseas but had been gambling with the money.

In January last year, three men had attempted to kidnap him from his car, but he was able to drive away.

Ms. Justice Norton said that Wilson had "used her child effectively as bait" for the attempted kidnap incident, which she said was a "particularly unpleasant" aspect of the case.

In the early hours of February 21, Danny was attacked at his home in Lipson Road, Plymouth, while his young daughter was asleep upstairs.

He suffered horrific injuries after having acid thrown in his face.

Speaking about the role of the four defendants, Ms. Justice Norton said Adedoja was in close contact with the drugs boss and was instrumental in the plot to cause Mr. Cahalane serious harm.

Bakas provided practical support such as with a stolen car, while Augustus was present and involved in the attack. Bakas and Adedoja both helped the attackers get to Plymouth and back to London after.

The judge said Wilson did not deal drugs, "but was happy to associate with those who did and provide assistance."

She added that Wilson provided information to the drugs boss as to Mr. Cahalane’s whereabouts and enabled the gang access to him – both on the night of the acid attack and an earlier attempted kidnapping.

Shortly after Mr. Cahalane was assaulted, police visited Paris at home to tell her he had been hurt.

The 35-year-old, captured on officers’ body-worn cameras, appeared visibly upset as she told them: "I am a bad mom. I know what he’s like.

"He’s not a victim. He brought all this on himself, and I knew about it. I knew he was in debt to people and I still let my daughter go there."

Wilson was sentenced to 12 months for attempted kidnapping. The judge said she would serve 40% of this sentence.

She received a consecutive sentence of eight years for manslaughter. The judge said Wilson would be released on license after serving two-thirds of this sentence.

Gudrun Young KC, defending Adedoja, said that he had not intended to kill Mr. Cahalane.

"It’s plain that he was acting at all times under the direction and control of Frost, an older man and an influential and powerful drug dealer in this world," Young said.

The judge dismissed a character reference submitted by Adedoja’s sister, saying it appeared to have been written with the assistance of AI.

She added that although this did not mean that "some of the sentiments came from the heart, it does not read as something she wrote."

The judge added that such AI-generated notes were becoming increasingly common, with one she had previously seen having the words "insert defendant’s name" still included.

Claire Davis KC, representing Augustus, said he had not been involved in the planning of the attack, and Ignatius Hughes KC, representing Bakas, said that his client had written a letter to the judge expressing his "remorse" for his role in the killing.

Four other defendants were previously jailed for their roles in the drugs gang.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr. Cahalane’s aunt, Jayne Keeper, said that his mother, Vivien Cahalane, had been previously diagnosed with cancer and died in hospital a day after her son.

Ms. Keeper said that Ms. Cahalane missed chemotherapy sessions as she spent time at her son’s bedside in hospital, which she said took a "toll on her health".

"Danny was a great father and son, he never let his children want for anything," Ms. Keeper said. "Despite this, Paris would put him under pressure for money and gifts."