Carlisle cryptocurrency robbers had gun and knife - court

Ted Richards, 24, and Jordan Barrett, 23, held two young men prisoner at a house on Moorhouse Road for more than two hours and, while threatening them with a gun and a knife, forced them to provide ID for bogus bitcoin accounts.

It was all part of an elaborate - but ultimately failed - attempt to steal several thousand pounds from their two victims in a way that would be untraceable.

In court Barrett claimed that he and his co-defendant had targeted the house in Carlisle because they wanted revenge on another young man, whom he blamed for a car accident that seriously injured his girlfriend. 

The case is believed to be the first in the country where offenders have forced their victims to help with the creation of cryptocurrency accounts to steal money from them and evade identification.

Barrett, of Red Bank Square, Carlisle, was jailed for six years and nine months for two counts of robbery and two counts of false imprisonment. Richards, of Empire Square, Southwark, London, was jailed for six years for two counts of robbery and two counts of false imprisonment. 

The sentencing at Carlisle Crown Court came after what police say was a protracted and complex investigation of the robbery, which got underway at Moorhouse Road on February 10, 2020.

The defendants barged into the property at 10.45pm, one armed with a gun and the other with a knife. Both had hidden their faces, with one robber wearing a motorbike helmet and the other a mask.

The two young men who were the victims were threatened with the weapons before they were forced to allow their ID to be used to create cryptocurrency accounts so that the two robbers could transfer money into them.

The pair then fled, stealing an Xbox and an iPhone. Outside the house, before they left, they fired the gun, having warned the two victims that they should not “do anything stupid” if they did not want to get hurt.

Immediately before firing the gun outsid the house, the men warned the victims that there would be “consequences” if they called the police. But police were alerted to the incident after the victims fled the scene and alerted neighbours.

The robbers were eventually traced after one of them switched on the stolen X-Box, revealing his location.

The money the due tried to steal was never transferred because the bitcoin company involved has a 24-hour verification delay in operation - and the robbery was reported before it expired.

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When officers searched Barrett’s home, they found the imitation handgun with a silencer, as well as laser and torch attachments, all of which matched the description provided by the two victims in this case.

Also found at Barrett’s address was a bullet press and ammunition.

In court, defence barristers for both defendants, who had no previous convictions and admitted all the charges, said they expressed remorse. “This is something which was genuinely out of character,” said Mark Shepherd, for Richards.

In a letter to the court, Barrett said the robbery was the “greatest mistake” of his life, adding: “I hope in time I can be forgiven.”

Passing sentence, Judge Nicholas Barker told the defendants that they had subjected their victims to a “terrifying ordeal,” when they were threatened with what they believed were a knife and a gun.

The impact on both victims had been substantial and “very real,” said the judge.

After the case, Detective Superintendent Jenny Beattie, who led the investigation, said: “This was an incredibly serious incident and one which was a terrifying ordeal for the victims in this case.

“I’d like to commend the victims for the bravery they have shown throughout our enquiries. This has been a complex case which has taken a significant amount of time and effort to conduct, however the support both victims have provided our investigation has enabled us to bring dangerous offenders to justice.

Cumbria Police (Image: Newsquest)

“Importantly our investigation has resulted in an imitation firearm being taken off the streets and away from criminal activity. Whilst this may be an imitation firearm, when used in such a way to threaten individuals it would likely lead to a member of the public to believe the threat was very real.

“We are pleased that both men have been put before the courts for their actions. The determination shown by the investigation team has been unwavering in carrying out the enquires which has led to a successful conviction.

“The team’s efforts are particularly impressive given the circumstances of how the criminals forced the victims to create cryptocurrency accounts, so they could attempt to evade identification, is believed to be a first to be put before a court in this country.  

“I hope the successful conviction of these men sends a clear message to any potential offenders. Individuals who would consider using firearms or carry out threatening behaviour will be subject of robust investigation.

“As shown in this case, our officers will do everything they can to bring criminals to justice.”

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