James Howells, a 39-year-old IT engineer from Newport, Wales, has been embroiled in a legal battle spanning more than a decade over the accidental disposal of a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins. Initially thrown out in 2013, when the cryptocurrency’s value was significantly lower, this hard drive now holds Bitcoins worth approximately £600 million due to the surge in Bitcoin’s.
- Background: Howells mined these Bitcoins in the early days of the cryptocurrency, starting in 2009. He dismantled his computer in 2010 after spilling lemonade on it, keeping the hard drive in a drawer until it was unintentionally discarded during a cleanup in 2013. His then-partner, Hafina Eddy-Evans, mistakenly threw away the black bin bag containing the hard drive, unaware of its contents.
- Legal Battle: Howells has made numerous attempts to persuade Newport City Council to allow him to search the Docksway landfill site for the hard drive. His offers included sharing a percentage of the Bitcoin with the council or the local community, with one proposal being to donate 25% if they helped in the recovery. However, the council has repeatedly denied these requests, citing the environmental impact and legal complications under the 1974 Control of Pollution Act, which states that anything deposited in the landfill becomes council property.
- Court Proceedings: Howells took legal action against Newport City Council, seeking either access to the landfill to recover his property or compensation amounting to £495 million. His case was heard in the Cardiff High Court, where he argued his legal right to the digital property and the feasibility of a targeted excavation. Despite his claims and the backing of data recovery experts and venture capitalists, Judge Keyser KC dismissed the case, stating there were no “reasonable grounds” for bringing the claim and “no realistic prospect” of success if it went to a full trial. The judge also highlighted the time elapsed since the hard drive was disposed of and the environmental concerns associated with excavation.
- Recent Developments: After the court’s decision, Howells accepted defeat, referring to the ruling as a manifestation of the “great British injustice system.” He has 21 days from the court’s decision to appeal, but any appeal would require presenting new compelling evidence or legal arguments to the same judge. Howells had previously mentioned plans for a community-owned Bitcoin mining facility on the landfill site, powered by renewable energy, but these plans now seem unfeasible.
- Public and Media Reaction: The case has garnered significant media attention, highlighting the bizarre yet poignant story of lost digital fortune. Social media and news outlets have covered the saga extensively, often framing it as a modern-day treasure hunt with a digital twist.
- Environmental and Legal Considerations: The council has maintained that the environmental permit for the landfill prohibits such excavations due to the potential for significant ecological damage. Furthermore, the council’s position is that once items are in the landfill, they legally belong to the council, a stance supported by existing laws.
James Howells’s story remains one of the most notable anecdotes in the cryptocurrency world, illustrating both the potential and peril of digital assets.
Man who accidentally binned his £600 million bitcoin from newport accepts defeat.