Sunderland crypto-scam victim attempted to rob a store with a gun.

When he lost money saved for his wedding in a cryptocurrency scam, a groom-to-be attempted to rob a store with a gun.

A court heard that student Louis Crosby, 25, “naively” converted his savings into digital cash before being duped.

On November 27, shortly after learning where the money had gone, he went to a Sunderland shop and demanded cash, but was met with resistance from the staff.

Crosby, of Portobello Road, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted robbery and possessing a firearm.

A judge suspended the sentence for two years, citing Crosby’s “crisis” caused by the cryptocurrency “disaster.”

Crosby walked into Newcastle Crown Court, the court heard.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the case. Crosby entered the Premier shop on St Luke’s Road around 22:50 GMT and told employees, “Give me the money, I have a gun.”

The store owner and a worker engaged in an “astonishing” fight, knocking the weapon out of Crosby’s hands and detaining him until the police arrived.

The worker approached Crosby despite the fact that the gun was pointed at him, according to the court.

The shop worker grabbed the gun – an unloaded air pistol – and knocked it out of Crosby’s hand, who then attempted to flee.

The court heard Crosby claim “it was a joke” when he was arrested.

Crosby was a college student who was about to marry a Singaporean national he met online.

“He,” said defense attorney Nicholas Lane.