Scottish court jails trio over attempted £2 million crypto theft plot

Traders Union
All News
Crypto
Scottish crypto theft plot jailed

Highlights

Scottish High Court sentences Robert Barr to eight years, Sean Favier to four years, and Iain Doyle to five years for plotting a £2 million cryptocurrency theft.
The trio's plan involved using AnyDesk remote-access software and physical intimidation to access a couple's digital assets but failed after being detected by a doorbell camera on April 17, 2024.
Investigators identified Barr as the plot's orchestrator via phone evidence seized on June 25, 2024, underscoring risks to crypto holders from both physical coercion and technological methods.

Court sentencing details and attempted theft method

As reported by The Block, citing a Scottish court statement issued on Tuesday, Robert Barr is sentenced to eight years in prison for orchestrating an attempted £2 million, $2.7 million, cryptocurrency theft from his cell at HMP Edinburgh. Barr is already serving a 21-month sentence for crypto-related fraud, while the High Court in Glasgow also sentences Sean Favier to four years and Iain Doyle to five years after the trio pleads guilty to involvement in serious organized crime.

The court says the plan centered on AnyDesk, a remote-access program that would have allowed Barr to control the victims' computer from prison. Prosecutors say he intended for his accomplices to enter the couple's home and force the homeowner to download the software, giving him access to the machine and, potentially, the cryptocurrency holdings.

The attempt fails when Favier and Doyle arrive at the couple's home at about 11:30 p.m. on April 17, 2024, but are seen on a doorbell camera. The occupants do not open the door, and the pair leave without gaining entry.

Investigation findings and broader crypto crime implications

Investigators later uncover Barr's role after seizing his phone on June 25, 2024, the court says. Messages found on the device detail his instructions to Favier and Doyle and outline his involvement in the attempted theft.

During sentencing, Lord Cubie says the crime combines "21st-century computer sophistication with old-fashioned housebreaking." The judge also says Barr's decision to organize another crypto-related offense while already in prison is a material aggravating factor, adding that a sentence of eight years and ten months would have been imposed if Barr had been convicted after a trial.

The case underlines the operational risks facing crypto holders beyond online hacks alone, particularly when criminals seek physical access to victims and use remote-control software to reach digital assets. Barr is due to face a serious crime prevention hearing on Nov. 17.

Previously, we examined Cohere’s planned purchase of AISLE to expand AI cybersecurity capabilities for enterprise and public-sector clients.

This material may contain third-party opinions, none of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer. While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners.