Two men are accused of plotting to steal £17m of cryptocurrency, including from behind bars.
Robert Barr, 28, and Barry Letham, 44, faced the claims during a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow this week.
It is alleged they teamed up with unknown others to conspire to “commit a series of robberies” between March and June 2024.
The planning is said to have been done at HMP Edinburgh and an address in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire as well as elsewhere.
Prosecutors claim individuals were to attend a number of properties in Scotland and England, knowing the occupiers “were the owners of significant amounts of cryptocurrency assets”.
Barr and Letham are said to have been involved in discussing “targets, arrangements and mechanisms” to steal the digital cash valued at in excess of £17m.
Barr is also alleged to have had mobile phones illegally while in prison.
The duo, along with Derek Walton, 42, Sean Favier, 25, and Iain Doyle, 36, are separately charged with being involved in targeting a property in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, in a similar crime between January and April 2024.
Barr initially is said to have fixed a robbery there where a cryptocurrency wallet, jewellery, electrical items and a key were stolen.
Barr and Letham are accused of later directing the other three to commit a further theft there.
It is claimed that Walton, Favier and Doyle effectively carried out a recce of the property, eventually appearing at the door with hoods up, faces covered and wearing gloves.
This was allegedly done to try to steal “a significant sum of cryptocurrency assets”.
Lawyers for Barr, Letham, Favier and Doyle pleaded not guilty on their behalf at the hearing.
Walton – also known as Roach – was not in court, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Lord Arthurson went on to fix a trial, and it is scheduled to start in September 2026 in Edinburgh.
The case could last around eight days.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
