NCA officer charged over theft of £60k of Bitcoin

An officer from the National Crime Agency (NCA) has been charged over the alleged theft of £60,000 worth of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

Paul Chowles, 42, from Bristol, is charged with 15 offences relating to the alleged theft of 50 Bitcoin during an investigation into online organised crime in 2017, Merseyside Police said.

The force said the Bitcoin would have been worth almost £60,000 at the time of the alleged offences.

Mr Chowles is due to appear at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on 25 April.

He faces 11 counts of concealing, disguising or converting criminal property, three counts of acquiring, using or possessing criminal property, and one count of theft.

Bitcoin is the biggest and oldest type of cryptocurrency, having been invented in 2008.

According to online converters, 50 Bitcoin would now be worth more than £3m.

Malcolm McHaffie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's special crime division, said: "Criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and he has the right to a fair trial.

"It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."

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