From Prison Cell to $2.7M Crypto Heist, Scottish Criminal Gets 8 More Years - Bitcoin News
A Scottish prisoner who masterminded a £2 million cryptocurrency robbery from behind bars has received another eight years in prison.
On Nov. 10, 2026, Lord Cubie sentenced 29-year-old Robert Barr at the High Court in Glasgow, alongside accomplices Sean Favier, 26, and Iain Doyle, 37. All three pleaded guilty to involvement in serious organized crime, with Barr receiving eight years, Favier four years, and Doyle five years.
Prison Command Center
Already imprisoned for cryptocurrency-related fraud, Barr allegedly coordinated the operation through illicit mobile phones. His accomplices were supposed to enter the victims' residence and compel them to install AnyDesk, a legitimate remote-access application.
Having control of the couple's computer, he would input the receiving cryptocurrency address and transfer the cryptocurrency from the couple's wallet to other accounts in his control, thus taking the value of the cryptocurrency for his own use.
Failed Burglary
Investigators recovered extensive communications from Barr's phone, documenting reconnaissance, surveillance, and discussions contemplating intimidation or violence. One message demanded: "WHEN THEY'RE IN HIS HOUSE GONNA NEED GET HIM ON TO HIS PC FAST N DOWNLOAD ANYDESK RAPID"
An earlier burglary in January 2024 produced a stolen hardware wallet, but the perpetrators could not access the crypto assets. The subsequent attempt unfolded around 11:30 p.m. on April 17, 2024, when Favier and Doyle approached the property wearing dark clothing with their faces concealed.
Lord Cubie observed that the operation was "only frustrated because the victims had the sense not to open their front door at 11:30 p.m. at night to unknown men, dressed in dark clothing with their faces obscured."
Judge's Ruling
During sentencing, Lord Cubie dismissed Barr's suggestion that he had been "easily led," pointing instead to his leadership and considerable technical capabilities.
You have accepted in the narrative being the head of the organized crime group which carried out the offense and are described as a sophisticated cybercriminal with the ability to orchestrate a level of criminality rarely seen within mainstream investigations.
Addressing Barr directly, he added: "Your culpability is high." The case comes as home invasions and so-called wrench attacks against crypto investors have been on the rise.
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