Barr was serving a 21-month sentence at HMP Edinburgh for a prior crypto fraud conviction when, according to prosecutors, he started orchestrating the new scheme. His target: a co-founder of a crypto startup sitting on roughly £2 million in digital assets. For related coverage, see Top Crypto Prop Trading Firms in 2026.
How a Prisoner Tried to Drain a Crypto Wallet From Behind Bars
According to the Judicial Office sentencing statement, the alleged plan involved Barr coordinating two accomplices, Sean Favier, 26, and Iain Doyle, 37, to physically confront the victim and force them to install AnyDesk, a legitimate remote-access application. Once installed, Barr would connect from his prison cell and drain the wallets himself. Context on this theme: Rialto Protocol Overview: Reported Features, Referral Terms and Airdrop Risks.
According to the Judicial Office sentencing statement, the first attempt, in January 2024, involved a burglary in which the accomplices stole a hardware wallet. According to Crypto Briefing‘s coverage of the case, the reported theft of the device did not by itself provide access to the assets. More on this in Ethena Review 2026: How Safe Is the Synthetic Dollar Behind USDe?.
According to the Judicial Office sentencing statement, Favier and Doyle returned to the victim’s address at 11:30 p.m. on April 17, 2024. The court statement says the victim saw the men on a doorbell camera and did not open the door, preventing the attempt from proceeding.
The Evidence That Sealed the Case
According to the Judicial Office sentencing statement, investigators seized Barr’s phone on June 25, 2024, and found planning messages and surveillance imagery of the victim’s home.
According to the Judicial Office sentencing statement, all three defendants pleaded guilty to serious organised crime charges. Scotland’s High Court of Justiciary in Glasgow handed down sentences on November 10, 2026, the date the Judicial Office published its sentencing statement.
Barr received eight years. Doyle was sentenced to five. Favier received four.
Lord Cubie, presiding over the case, described the scheme in terms that cut right to the heart of it: “This was a crime which married 21st-century computer sophistication with old-fashioned housebreaking.”
“This was a crime which married 21st-century computer sophistication with old-fashioned housebreaking.”
How Physical Access Featured in the Alleged Plot
What makes this case notable is the combination of tactics. Remote-access software like AnyDesk is a standard IT tool, commonly used by support desks and remote workers. In this alleged scheme, it was the digital mechanism for draining wallets worth approximately £2 million, with two men providing the physical coercion needed to get it installed.
The court statement says the victim saw the men on a doorbell camera and did not open the door, preventing the attempt from proceeding.
According to Crypto Briefing’s case coverage, the reported theft of the hardware wallet did not by itself provide access to the assets.
According to the Judicial Office sentencing statement, Barr’s prior 21-month sentence was for crypto fraud, and the alleged new plot was conceived while he was incarcerated.
What Comes Next for Barr
The legal proceedings are not fully closed. A serious crime prevention order hearing is scheduled for November 17, 2026, according to the sentencing statement published by Scotland’s Judicial Office. Such orders can impose significant restrictions on a person’s activities after release.
According to a single source reported by Decrypt, Barr may also be facing potential US extradition proceedings, though this has not been independently confirmed by a second source or official document.
The case involved allegations of both physical access and remote-access software.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
