Facing jail, the brains behind Scotland's first ever Bitcoin robbery probe

• Woman 'beaten with Toblerone bar' in violent raid 

A man is facing jail after a huge sum of cryptocurrency was stolen during a violent robbery.

John-Ross Rennie was found guilty of having the digital cash in his account following the late night raid at a house in Lanarkshire.

Police said a quantity of Bitcoin, valued at around £160,000, was forcibly transferred to an account linked to Rennie.

A woman was badly injured after being struck with a personalised Toblerone chocolate bar during the heist.

Rennie was described as the 'technical' brains behind the crime – the first cryptocurrency robbery in Scotland.

The 28-year-old had denied being part of the raid itself on March 18, 2020, insisting a 'scary' relative had later forced him to put the money into his account.

Rennie was cleared of assault and robbery at the High Court in Glasgow but was found guilty of reset – the possession of stolen goods.

The raid took place at the home of a man – who cannot be named for legal reasons – said to be involved in Bitcoin. His brother and a woman were also there that evening.

The sibling told police how he had been awoken by his dog barking and then spotted a dark figure in his doorway. The person yelled: 'Do not phone the f****** police.'

The robber was said to have had a machete in his hand. The witness told officers: 'I did not say anything to the guy as I was still confused.'

He said another thug then shouted at his brother: 'Transfer the f****** money.' He told police: 'I could hear (my brother) tell the guys he was sending the money.'

A third raider then 'threw' the woman into a bedroom. The brother said: 'He was holding a chocolate Toblerone.' It was said to have the woman's blood on it. Prosecutors allege she had been repeatedly struck on the head with the sweet.

The robber then used the bar to make a 'throat slitting gesture'. The gang eventually fled in an Audi car. Rennie, of Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, was arrested months later.

He insisted he had no knowledge of the robbery and only learned it had taken place afterwards.

The delivery driver said he had been contacted by a 'violent' relative who stated he was 'due to come into possession of cryptocurrency' and could he 'help' him.

Rennie claimed this individual was not someone 'you said no to'.

Jurors were told the digital cash ended up in Rennie's account and was then transferred elsewhere.

Prosecutors said Rennie gave the gang 'technical expertise' in order to steal the cash. But defence lawyer Marco Guarino told jurors: 'The Crown suggest he was part of the plan and you find him guilty of robbery. What I suggest the evidence points to is he was a resetter.'

After being found guilty of reset Rennie was bailed by Lord Scott, who deferred sentencing for reports until later this month.

Detective Inspector Craig Potter, of Police Scotland's Cyber Investigations unit, said: 'This was the first robbery in Scotland to involve tracing stolen cryptocurrency.

'Specialist officers were able to follow the funds to show he was responsible for the Bitcoin wallet which received the stolen funds.'