A UK man’s desperate fight to recover a hard drive containing private keys to 8,000 Bitcoin—worth approximately $660 million—has hit another roadblock. James Howells, an early Bitcoin adopter, has had his appeal to search a landfill rejected by the UK Court of Appeal, pushing him to what he calls his “last legal option.”

Howells took to social media on March 14 to express his frustration, stating that his appeal request to the Royal Court of Appeal had been refused. He criticized the decision, calling it an example of the "Great British Injustice System" protecting itself. With no more legal avenues in the UK, Howells is now turning to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), claiming his rights to property and a fair trial have been violated.

UK Royal Court of Appeal Judge Christopher Nugee dismissed Howells’ case, citing no "real prospect of success." This follows a similar rejection on January 9 by High Court Judge Andrew Keyser, who ruled that Howells' case was unlikely to succeed in a full trial.

Despite these setbacks, Howells is determined to continue his legal battle, vowing that he will not let authorities "sweep this under the carpet." While the ECHR cannot overrule UK court decisions, a favorable ruling could pressure UK courts to reconsider their stance.

Howells’ saga dates back to 2013 when his former partner accidentally discarded a bag containing the hard drive at Newport’s Docksway landfill. Since then, local authorities have repeatedly denied him permission to dig through the site. With the landfill reportedly set to close in the 2025-2026 financial year, time is running out for Howells to reclaim his lost Bitcoin fortune.