Three UK Men Sentenced to Five to Six Years in Prison for Attempted Cryptocurrency Home Invasion Robbery

On October 19, according to Decrypt, the Bristol Crown Court in the UK issued a verdict in a home invasion case targeting a cryptocurrency holder, sentencing three men to prison terms ranging from five to six years.

Case details indicate that defendants Terroll Paul, 31, Mohamed Samagassi, 37, and Pierre Madzou, 30, forcibly entered the victim's home in the early hours of May 15, assaulted him, and demanded large amounts of cryptocurrency. The victim suffered head injuries, leading his sister to immediately report the crime to the police, who apprehended the trio at the scene. All three subsequently pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary (Aggravated Burglary), with Paul ultimately sentenced to six years in prison, Madzou to five and a half years, and Samagassi to five years.

Cases utilizing real-world physical violence to compel victims to surrender assets are termed "wrench attacks." According to data from blockchain security firm CertiK, global "wrench attacks" caused victim losses amounting to $124 million in the first half of 2026, marking a 12-fold year-on-year increase.