Warren offers to sell his share of The Dog back if Darren came pay him £100,000 within 48 hours. Darren and Jessica steal £3000 from Evissa which they take to they casino. Darren wins £200,000 which Jessica steals before leaving. When Warren causes Jack trouble, Jack blames Darren and later disowns him. Jack, Frankie, Newt and Louise Summers (Roxanne McKee) are held hostage at The Dog. Darren tries to help them, but is shot in a confrontation with their captor. Darren is taken to hospital where he recovers. Warren later gives Jack his share of The Dog. Warren bribes Darren with £100,000 to help frame Jake Dean (Kevin Sacre) for the murder of Sean Kennedy (Matthew Jay Lewis). Darren takes the money to the casino, where he loses all of it overnight. To solve the families' financial problems Darren and Jack fake Jack's death. Darren and Cindy Cunningham (Stephanie Waring) begin a casual relationship. Upon learning the McQueens are in danger Darren and Jack leave to try to rescue them from Niall Rafferty (Barry Sloane). The church is blown up and Darren helps rescue the McQueens from the rubble. Darren turns himself in to the police after Jack refuses to leave the scene and the insurance scam is discovered. He is released four months later.