By then, Dan's growing conflicts with both Phil and Steve were respectively steamed from each of their own romances with Mel — whom Dan had formerly dated after his relationship with one of the pub's customers, Teresa di Marco (Leila Birch), ended with the character sparking a quarrel with her overprotective brother Gianni (Marc Bannerman). He also ends up squaring up against the Mitchell family amid the "Who Shot Phil" scenario by clashing with Phil's mother Peggy (Barbara Windsor); extorting money from his godson Jamie (Jack Ryder); and tormenting the latter's estranged uncle Billy (Perry Fenwick). Although it was ultimately revealed on 5 April 2001 that Phil's ex-girlfriend Lisa Shaw (Lucy Benjamin) was in fact the shooter, Phil ends up framing Dan for the crime by colluding with his former crime boss Ritchie Stringer (Gareth Hunt) against him; Dan is consequently arrested and wrongfully imprisoned prior to his trial in mid-summer 2001. While Phil and Steve — though sworn enemies — worked together to rid themselves of their common adversary, the trial culminated with Dan being found not guilty by the jury.