A British man, locked in a desperate struggle to recover 8,000 lost Bitcoin—worth hundreds of millions—has faced yet another legal setback, forcing him to escalate his battle to the European courts.
Appeal Rejected: 8,000 BTC Remain Trapped as the Fight Moves to Europe
James Howells, an IT engineer from Newport, Wales, who inadvertently discarded a hard drive containing Bitcoin now worth over $600 million, has once again suffered a legal defeat in his quest for recovery. His latest appeal before the Royal Court of Appeal has been denied.
“Appeal to the Royal Court of Appeal: Denied,” Howells announced on March 14 via social media platform X. He added:
“The great British injustice system strikes again… The state always protects the state.”
For years, Howells has battled for permission to excavate a landfill where the hard drive is believed to be buried. He has presented multiple proposals to reclaim the lost Bitcoin, including:
- Offering the Newport City Council a share of the recovered fortune.
- Fully funding an environmentally responsible excavation.
- Even proposing to buy the landfill outright to conduct the search independently.
Despite his persistent efforts, the city council has repeatedly denied his requests, citing environmental concerns and the legal ownership of landfill contents.
A March 13 court document, which Howells shared on X, confirmed that the decision was made by Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Nugee. The ruling was clear:
“Decision: Denied.”
Lord Justice Nugee elaborated on his reasoning, stating:
“I do not consider it likely that the proposed appeal has a realistic prospect of success. There is no other compelling reason why the appeal should be heard, and permission must therefore be refused.”
Next Stop: European Court of Human Rights
Following the ruling, Howells has now vowed to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). He declared on X:
“Next stop: ECHR.”
Based in Strasbourg, France, the ECHR handles cases involving human rights violations under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Despite numerous legal setbacks, Howells remains resolute in pursuing every available legal avenue to reclaim his lost Bitcoin. His decision to escalate the case to an international court signals his unwavering defiance against British authorities. Whether the ECHR will accept his case, however, remains uncertain.
