Robert Barr received an eight‑year prison term after orchestrating a remote‑access crypto heist from his cell, a scheme foiled when victims refused entry.
A Glasgow High Court sentenced 29‑year‑old Robert Barr to eight years behind bars for coordinating a sophisticated cryptocurrency robbery while already incarcerated at HMP Edinburgh. According to Decrypt, Barr directed two men to break into a Midlothian home, coerce the occupant into installing the remote‑access tool AnyDesk, and then siphon up to £2 million (approximately $2.7 million) in crypto to wallets he controlled. The scheme collapsed when the victims, alerted by their doorbell camera, refused to let the intruders inside.
Lord Cubie, presiding over Scotland’s High Court of Justiciary, described the case as a blend of modern cyber‑crime and traditional burglary. He noted that Barr, already serving a 21‑month fraud sentence, used illicit communications to manage the operation from prison. The court also sentenced accomplices Sean Favier, 26, to four years and Iain Doyle, 37, to five years for their roles in the attempted theft.
The plan, as outlined in the sentencing statement, involved Favier and Doyle entering the victim’s home at around 11:30 p.m. on 17 April 2024. They would persuade the homeowner, a crypto‑startup co‑founder, to download AnyDesk, granting Barr remote control of the computer. With that access, Barr intended to transfer the cryptocurrency to wallets he owned. Earlier in the year, the same trio had broken into the house and taken a hardware wallet, but were unable to access its funds without the PIN.
The case adds to a surge in high‑value crypto thefts reported in 2026. Chainalysis data cited by Decrypt shows more than $30 million stolen in the first half of the year, with “wrench attacks” – using force or threats to compel victims to hand over crypto – becoming increasingly common. Recent UK cases include teenagers jailed for a $4.3 million knifepoint theft and a separate failed home invasion targeting crypto assets.
Lord Cubie is set to consider a serious crime‑prevention order against Barr on 17 November, which could impose further restrictions on his activities after release. Additionally, authorities are monitoring potential extradition proceedings, as Barr remains in custody awaiting possible transfer to another jurisdiction.
The conspirators planned to install AnyDesk on the victim’s computer, allowing Barr to remotely control it and move the funds to his own wallets.
The targeted couple saw the burglars on their doorbell camera and chose not to open the front door, preventing the attackers from installing the remote‑access software.
A serious crime‑prevention order is scheduled for 17 November, and Barr remains in custody pending possible extradition.
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