Three men break into UK home and assault victim in attempt to steal crypto, receive maximum sentences of 6 years

Odaily Report: Three men in Bristol, UK, broke into a man's home in the early hours of May 15, assaulted the victim, and demanded he hand over a large amount of cryptocurrency. The victim sustained head injuries and was hospitalized for treatment; the three men were unsuccessful in their attempt.

Terroll Paul, Mohamed Samagassi, and Pierre Madzou all pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on October 15. Paul was sentenced to 6 years, Madzou to 5 and a half years, and Samagassi to 5 years; the victim's underage sister called the police, and the three were subsequently arrested at the scene.

Police did not disclose the amount of cryptocurrency the three demanded. The case is a "wrench attack," in which criminals use violence or threats to force cryptocurrency holders to hand over digital assets; data from blockchain security firm CertiK shows that in the first six months of 2026, such attacks worldwide caused $124 million in losses, a 12-fold year-on-year increase. (Decrypt)