Three men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a violent home invasion aimed at stealing cryptocurrency. Terroll Paul, 31, Mohamed Samagassi, 37, and Pierre Madzou, 30, broke into a Bristol home in the early hours of May 15, assaulting the victim and demanding a large sum of digital assets. The victim suffered a serious head injury that required hospitalization. The men were arrested at the scene after the victim's teenage sister alerted the police.
All three pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary in August and were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on October 15. Paul received six years in prison, Madzou was sentenced to five and a half years, and Samagassi got five years. The victim's sister was praised for her bravery, which led to the swift apprehension of the offenders.
The victim described the attack as life-altering, stating that he had gone from being outgoing to feeling tense and apprehensive. The case highlights the growing trend of so-called wrench attacks, where criminals use violence or threats to steal cryptocurrency directly from holders. In the first half of 2026, such attacks cost victims $124 million globally, a significant increase from the previous year.