Robert Barr, 29, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for directing a £2 million cryptocurrency theft plot from his cell at HMP Edinburgh. The High Court in Glasgow heard that Barr pleaded guilty to being concerned in serious organized crime.
Two of Barr's accomplices also received custodial sentences. Sean Favier, 26, received four years, and Iain Doyle, 37, received five years after both pleaded guilty to their involvement.
The Theft Scheme
The plot targeted a husband and wife in Midlothian whose home had been burgled in January 2024. While the break-in resulted in the theft of the husband's cryptocurrency wallet, the thieves did not obtain the PIN required to access it.
Barr devised a second operation using accomplices Favier and Doyle. The plan involved the two men gaining entry to the couple's home and forcing the husband to download AnyDesk, a remote-access program that would allow Barr to control the computer from prison and transfer the cryptocurrency to accounts under his control.
On April 17, 2024, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Favier and Doyle approached the couple's house with their faces covered. The couple observed them on camera and refused to allow them entry, and the men left the property.
Investigation and Sentencing
Police seized Barr's phone on June 25, 2024, at HMP Edinburgh. Messages on the device revealed months of intelligence gathering and reconnaissance related to the plot, according to Lord Cubie. The judge noted that the messages also referenced potential threats or violence.
An aggravating factor in sentencing was that Barr had organized the plot while serving an earlier 21-month sentence for cryptocurrency fraud. Lord Cubie stated that Barr's culpability was high, though the potential harm was limited because Favier and Doyle failed to gain entry to the property.
Lord Cubie indicated that a sentence of eight years and ten months would have been imposed following a trial, which was reduced to eight years following Barr's guilty plea. The court will consider a serious crime prevention order against Barr on November 17.
