UK Trio Jailed Over Home Invasion in Failed Crypto Theft Attempt

In brief

• Three men have been jailed for between five and six years after breaking into a man's home in Bristol, England, and demanding a large amount of cryptocurrency.
• All three pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court.
• The case adds to a string of crypto "wrench attacks," in which criminals use violence or threats to force holders to hand over digital assets.

Three men who forced their way into a man's home in Bristol, England, and assaulted him in a failed attempt to steal cryptocurrency have been jailed, Avon and Somerset Police said on Friday.

Terroll Paul, 31, Mohamed Samagassi, 37, and Pierre Madzou, 30, broke into the victim's home in the early hours of May 15, assaulted him and demanded he hand over a large amount of digital currency. He was hit over the head, suffering a substantial injury that required hospital treatment.

The victim's teenage sister alerted police, and all three men were arrested at the scene.

They pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary in August, and were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday. Paul, of Barking in London, received six years in prison, Madzou, also of Barking, five and a half years, and Samagassi, of no fixed address, five years.