TLDR
- In 2013, James Howells mislaid a hard drive with 8,000 Bitcoin, which ended up in a Welsh landfill, a fortune currently valued at roughly £769 million.
- His legal challenge against Newport City Council was rejected by the UK Court of Appeal.
- Judge Christopher Nugee stated there was 'no real chance of success' in the presented argument.
- Howells is planning to pursue the matter further in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
- The landfill site at Docksway, where the hard drive is believed to be buried, is on course to close between 2025 and 2026.
James Howells, the British individual who lost thousands of Bitcoin in a Welsh landfill, faced defeat in the UK Court of Appeal, despite years of attempting to gain access to the site he suspects still holds the drive.
In a twist of fate in 2013, Howells’ ex-partner inadvertently discarded the drive holding 8,000 Bitcoins, now valued at £769 million ($660 million).
On March 14, Lord Justice Christopher Nugee dismissed Howells’ appeal, emphasizing there was 'no real likelihood of success' nor 'any compelling reason' to hear it.
Application for permission to approach the Royal Court of Appeal was withheld.
The British legal machinery fails its citizens once again...
The state always protects the state.
Next stop: ECHR pic.twitter.com/KFYRSbsEPo
— James Howells (@howelzy) March 14, 2025
This latest ruling is part of a series of courtroom battles by Howells to compel Newport City Council to permit him to search Docksway. His earlier attempt was shot down by the High Court in January.
Previously, Judge Andrew Keyser found Howells’ chances at trial untenable and dismissed the case, a decision mirrored this time, with the city council adamantly refusing landfill access.
Judge Nugee's decision also excluded the possibility of taking the case to the Supreme Court, closing the chapter for Howells in UK jurisdiction.
With limited choices left, Howells opts to continue his fight at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), alleging breaches in his rights by the UK judicial system.
Following the decision, Howells declared, 'My only path now leads to the ECHR, arguing breaches of my A1P1 – property rights – and AA6 – Fair Trial rights.'
Voicing disappointment with UK legal proceedings, Howells proclaimed on social media: 'The UK justice system shows its true colors once more... The state safeguards its own.'.
While the ECHR can't overturn UK rulings directly, a favorable outcome for Howells could pressure British courts to reassess interpretations ensuring consistency with ECHR standards.
Determined to continue, Howells is preparing his submission for the ECHR. He remains undeterred by setbacks, insisting, 'This won't fade away – no matter how protracted the process becomes.'
Time might be against Howells as the clock on landfill accessibility ticks down. BBC News reports indicate that the landfill is set to close in the financial year 2025-2026.
In a strategic move, reports surfaced of Howells connecting with investors interested in acquiring the landfill from Newport City Council, a potential gateway to revisiting the search.
The saga underlines the inherent risks of managing cryptocurrency independently. Few could foresee Bitcoin's trajectory when Howells lost his hard drive back in 2013.
Newport City Council maintains its position that landfill exploration would endanger a crucial community resource – a stance they've steadfastly held against Howells’ repeated legal pursuits.
James Howells, an IT professional and among the early Bitcoin adopters, told City AM His legal fight stems from a belief in proving a point, unwavering in his conviction of successfully retrieving the elusive hard drive.
