A Scottish court has sentenced Robert Barr to eight years in prison after prosecutors said he directed an attempt to steal up to £2 million, or about $2.7 million, in cryptocurrency while behind bars. Investigators said the plan depended on two accomplices confronting the intended victim at home and forcing the installation of remote-access software so Barr could move the funds from his cell.

The attempted theft did not succeed. According to the court, the victims saw two masked men outside their home through a doorbell camera and chose not to answer the door, stopping the plot before access to the computer or crypto holdings could be gained.

A plot built around remote access

Prosecutors said Barr's plan was to have two associates compel the victim to install AnyDesk, a remote desktop program that would have allowed him to take control of the victim's computer from prison. Once connected, he allegedly intended to transfer the cryptocurrency himself.

The court heard that the targeted amount was as much as £2 million. The victim was identified as a co-founder of a crypto startup, though prosecutors said he did not publicly advertise his holdings. Investigators said he appeared to have been selected in part because he followed mostly crypto-related accounts on social media.

Months of preparation uncovered by investigators

Authorities said the attempted theft was preceded by months of planning. After Barr's phone was seized in June 2024, investigators reconstructed what they described as extensive preparation, including efforts to identify the victim, obtain images of the house and carry out reconnaissance.

Messages recovered from the device, according to prosecutors, openly discussed the possibility of threats or violence. The court also heard that Barr's associates had previously broken into the same house in January 2024 and stolen a crypto wallet. They were unable to access the funds at that time because they did not have the PIN needed to use it.

Court cites prior crypto offence and prison conduct

In court, prosecutors described Barr as a “sophisticated cybercriminal” capable of organizing a type of offending not commonly encountered in mainstream investigations. The judge also pointed to Barr's previous conviction for a crypto fraud when weighing sentence.

Another factor highlighted by the court was that the offence was organized from inside prison. The judge said Barr had used “plainly illicit means of being in contact or online” while in custody, treating that as a material aggravating feature of the case.

Why the attempt failed and what comes next

The judge said the scheme was ultimately thwarted because the victims refused to open their front door to unknown men whose faces were covered. That decision prevented the alleged plan from progressing to the point where Barr could gain remote access to the victim's computer and attempt to move the crypto assets.

Barr remains in custody and is awaiting potential extradition. The court also said he is to be considered for a serious crime prevention order, which could become the next confirmed legal step following the sentence.

Source: decrypt.co