Frankie discover that Darren has stolen Frankie's jewellery and lost his half of The Dog. Jack then has a heart attack which Darren blames himself for. 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. Frankie and Jack discover that Darren took a £100,000 bribe from Warren to get Jake to confess to Sean's murder, and then gambled the money away despite the family being in debt. Jack banishes his son. Darren becomes depressed when his family ignore him and begins staying in his flat, refusing to leave. Cindy convinces Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard) to give Darren a job at a charity event at Il Gnosh. Darren and Hannah Ashworth (Emma Rigby) drunkenly marry. Darren begins scheming with Cindy to scam The Dog. Darren and Hannah have sex, but Darren ends his relationship with Hannah and with Cindy begins planning to scam Hannah and Tony. Darren and Cindy have sex and are caught by Tony. During Hollyoaks Later, Darren attempts to convince Cindy not to marry Tony. They marry despite Darren's attempts to stop the ceremony. Hannah moves into Darren's flat after she and her parents argue. Darren is stabbed by Jamie (Finn Jones)