Friend taken our van & tools

[wend969]

We bought a van off a friend about 6 months ago for £1000, we gave him £700 when we got it & £250 a couple of months ago, so still owe him £50. In the meantime my husband has been working with him & they both got their tools stolen, tools weren't insured, so had to buy new, didn't have the money at the time, so a local merchant said we could pay them monthly, we've paid £500 off a £1600 bil so far, but the merchant has now put them on our friends account, as we don't have one with them.

 

The friend has been baggering us for the money daily, so we've put our car up for sale, so we can pay him. We went away over the weekend & left the van with tools in, in a mutual friends locked yard, went for it this morning & it had gone, called the police, then found out the 1st friend had taken it & its in him lockup on the same yard (we didn't know he had one!).

 

The police have spoken to the friend & they are saying its a civil matter. Spoke to the so called friend & he said he's keeping it all till we've paid him & he's says we also owe him £1500 for the van & £2500 off a job they did together.

 

 

The van was only £1000, so only owe £50, put neither of us has proof as nothing written down & paid cash, we have got proof we paid the £500 off the tools. The van is registered in our name & we insure it. Please help, we are desperate.

 

Thanks in advance