To ask for advice on returning stuff to abusive ex?

[Tafelberg]

My ex partner was given a criminal caution by the police after admitting having harassed me and my family online, among many other things he did following our split which couldn’t be proven (stealing/throwing away my belongings, ripping up my clothes, breaking my shoes, stealing my post etc). I haven’t seen him for over a year and am desperate never to see him again.
Unfortunately though, when I packed up my stuff to move out of our flat, I was in a rush to get out and accidentally packed some of his things with mine - records, books, photos mostly. I only realised when I moved into my new home and unpacked everything from the storage unit.
For months, I’ve been trying to find ways to get this stuff back to him without having to see/contact him. Even though he’s never said anything about it (he must not have realised it’s missing, because he almost definitely would’ve kicked off if he had) it’s stuff that I know is of sentimental value to him, especially the photos. Ideally I wanted to take it to a police station near his home, leave it there and then him collect it a bit later, so the police could confirm the stuff was in good condition (I wouldn’t put it past him to damage it and then claim I’d done it). But they’re refusing to help me and saying I need to arrange a collection via a solicitors which they would attend to prevent a breach of the peace. I don’t want to pay a solicitor and that would probably still involve me having to see him.
What can I do? We don’t have any mutual friends. He was abusive to several of my friends and family so I don’t want to involve them. I don’t want to just leave the stuff at his flat as I might see him. Any ideas? Should I just courier it to him and hope he doesn’t go down the route of breaking/trashing some of it and claiming it turned up damaged?

And take a photo of it before it is sent so you can confirm the condition.

Nah I get it op. You were fair and want to continue to do so. How much room is it taking up? I had to keep the stuff for 2 years. Then bin it.

Don’t do the storage box option as you will be liable if he doesn’t collect it. Drop it off at his house when he’s home. Put it in doorstop, ring door bell and walk away. Take a photo of him answering g the door. Done.

For those suggesting a time limit before she can get rid of the stuff, that would work if he had left it at the OP's place. That is not what happened here. The OP herself took the stuff. If she chucks it or gives it to a charity shop then, technically, she is guilty of theft- taking something that doesn't belong to her and permanently depriving the owner of their belongings. Not that it would be easy for him to prove

If you are hell bent on returning this stuff, put it in the post to his parents, no return address, and be done with it. No solicitor needed.

@user1471457751 exactly. This is what worries me. Even though he obviously hasn’t missed it, technically he would be within his rights to claim I’ve stolen it. And because I’ve gone to the police so many times asking for their help in getting it back to him, there is an audit trail to say I’ve had it - so it’s not a case of just being able to deny all knowledge if it ever came to it.

I just don’t want him to ever have the satisfaction of feeling that anything he did to me was remotely justified. I don’t want to feel like I’ve done the same to him as he did to me, whether he deserves it or not. I think I am just going to courier it to him, yes it will cost me to send it but it’ll be worth it to be rid of every last reminder of him.

I would bin or courier to his parents. Who cares if that’s a way from him, it’s not like he needs it day to day or he would have noticed it was gone.

Yes I'd put it to his parents. But a courier, if you can afford it, would be a great way of tracking the return. Definitely don't leave yourself vulnerable.

@Secretsout

And I definitely wouldn't put it in a storage facility for him to collect because the abusive fecker probably wouldn't collect it and you'd be lumbered with storage costs.

Even if you book for a fixed term?

Could you take it to a police station as 'lost property' ?

Do you have friends and family that don't know him that could hand it over? It's harder for him to be an arse and for it to have an impact if the person doesn't know him from Adam and won't ever see him again.

It’s been over a year, the Police won’t care if you bin it!

He has had more than a reasonable amount of time to request it.

I’d have binned it months ago.

If you really want to return it, like others have said give it to one of his relatives.

Even landlords can bin tenants left behind items after a much shorter period of time if items not collected.

You are thinking of letting him get his foot in your door (mind?). I think you want to be talked out of it so listen to those of us who are telling you to get rid of the stuff one way or another. Don't be considerate, why would you??????