Table of Contents
British IT worker James Howells, who has been desperately trying to recover a hard drive containing the private keys to 8,000 Bitcoin (BTC) since 2013, has suffered yet another legal defeat. The UK Court of Appeal has once again denied his request to search the landfill in Wales where the drive is supposedly buried.
Another Legal Defeat for Howells
Howells, who has become somewhat of a Bitcoin urban legend, took to social media to vent his frustration. On X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:
“Appeal request to the Royal Court of Appeal: refused”
He didn’t stop there, adding:
“The Great British Injustice System strikes again… The state always protects the state.”
Judge Christopher Nugee dismissed the appeal, stating that there was “no realistic prospect of success” and “no compelling reason” to revisit the case. This latest decision follows an earlier rejection in January by Judge Andrew Keyser of the UK High Court.
Last Hope: European Court of Human Rights?
After this crushing blow, Howells isn’t giving up just yet. He now plans to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), arguing that both the UK Court of Appeal and the High Court have violated his property rights and right to a fair trial, as defined in:
✅ Article 1 of Protocol 1 – Right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions.
✅ Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) – Right to a fair trial.
While the ECHR does not have the power to overturn UK court rulings, a ruling in Howells’ favor could pressure the UK government to change its legislation—which might, in theory, open up new legal avenues for his case. But let’s be honest—that’s a long shot at best.
A Fortune in the Trash
Howells’ battle with the Newport City Council has been going on for years. The council has consistently refused to grant him permission to dig through the landfill at Docksway, where he believes the lost Bitcoin treasure is buried.
According to Howells, the hard drive was accidentally thrown out in 2013 by his then-partner, who had no idea it contained what would later become a multi-million-dollar fortune. At the time, Bitcoin was barely a blip on the financial radar, and few could have predicted its meteoric rise.
But time is running out. The Docksway landfill is set to be closed permanently in the 2025-2026 UK tax year, further reducing the odds of a successful recovery.
$660 Million Lost Forever?
With 8,000 Bitcoin currently worth around $660 million, Howells isn’t backing down. But whether the ECHR will intervene, or whether he will ever get access to that landfill, remains highly uncertain.
What is certain, though, is that Howells refuses to quit. Whether his quest for lost Bitcoin riches ends in redemption or tragedy, it’s already cemented itself as one of the greatest crypto cautionary tales of all time.
