8,000 Bitcoin Fortune Buried in Landfill: UK Court Denies Search as Man Takes Case to Human Rights Court

Court Rejects Bid to Search Landfill for Bitcoin Hard Drive

A man's long-running legal battle to recover a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin has faced yet another setback, as the UK Court of Appeal denied his request to search a landfill.

The hard drive, which was accidentally discarded in 2013, is now believed to be worth approximately $831 million at current Bitcoin price.

Howells Appeals for Access to Landfill

James Howells, an early Bitcoin adopter, had sought permission to dig through the Docksway landfill site, where he believes the discarded hard drive is buried.

His previous attempts to secure approval from the Newport City Council were rejected, with officials citing environmental concerns and the cost of the operation.

The rejection from the Court of Appeal, delivered by Judge Christopher Nugee, confirmed that there was no “real prospect of success” in the case.

Howells expressed his frustration with the decision through his X post on 14 March, stating,

“The Great British Injustice System strikes again… The state always protects the state.”

Despite the setback, he made it clear that his fight is far from over and vowed to take the case to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Next Step at the European Court of Human Rights

Howells, determined not to give up on his quest to recover the Bitcoin, intends to appeal to the ECHR, where he will argue that his right to property and a fair trial under the European Convention has been violated.

He specifically refers to Article 1 of Protocol 1 and Article 6, which deal with the protection of property and the right to a fair hearing.

Howells wrote in a statement to Cointelegraph, reaffirming his resolve,

“The British establishment want to sweep this under the carpet, and i will not let them. It will not go away — no matter how long it takes!”

The ECHR’s ruling, however, would not have the authority to overturn the decisions made by UK courts.

Instead, it could influence how UK laws are interpreted in light of the European Convention’s principles.

Landfill Closure Looms Over Search Efforts

Time is running out for Howells to recover the hard drive.

The Docksway landfill is scheduled to close in the 2025-2026 financial year, further complicating the task.

Docksway landfill, Newport, Wales

The landfill site, where Howells' former partner unintentionally threw away the hard drive containing the private keys to his Bitcoin, has been at the centre of the dispute for years.

The hard drive was discarded during a household clearout, and Howells has been trying ever since to retrieve it.

He had no idea that the Bitcoin would become such a valuable asset.

High Court and Appeal Court Rejections

The UK High Court previously dismissed Howells' case in January, agreeing with Judge Andrew Keyser’s statement that there was “no realistic prospect” of success in a full trial.

Now, with the Royal Court of Appeal’s decision, Howells’ chances of success appear slimmer, but his resolve remains intact.

As he stated, he will not let the issue be swept under the carpet, in response to the legal system's refusal to permit him to search the landfill.

His commitment to seeking justice and reclaiming his Bitcoin seems unwavering, even in the face of repeated failures.