@Castleontheisland
I hope you are feeling better now.
I would do what @Emotionalsupportviper suggested using the information that @TitsInAbsentia link will give you.
In this way, you can properly charge her for:
> using your electricity (TV costs, lighting costs, broadband running costs, etc.,),
> gas (heating costs, etc.,),
> Netflix costs (how much you pay per day),
> Sky costs (as per Netflix),
> laundry costs (running machine, detergent etc.,),
> hire of the carpet shampooer,
> costs of lock changes,
> nominal food/drink costs,
> water usage charges and portion of the water rates costs.
Make sure you keep receipts for the lock changes, carpet shampooer, etc.
I would send the bill with a letter allowing her XX amount of time to pay up or be taken to court. Make sure you keep a copy of both and send it through the post via whatever it’s called when the addressee has to sign for mail (recorded or registered delivery?) and make sure that you go online and get a copy of the proof of receipt (I think it’s a copy of the thing they have to sign when the postie delivers - I apologise as it’s been a long time since I used UK postal services).
When she doesn’t pay up, call that Judge Rinder show up and see if you can get on that because he’ll give her what for!
Otherwise just make a claim through the small claims court as I think you can ask for about £5,000 and I’m pretty sure that the bill won’t be that much.
I don’t think she would have a leg to stand on, because she used your key to gain entry to your house, illegally, and then helped herself to your goods and chattels via a third party (grandchildren) which she admitted to you.
Let her laugh about the comedic value of that! I think you’ve burnt your bridges with your neighbour anyway so what do you have to lose? The law is quite clear cut - taking someone else’s goods is theft; she stole from you via her grandchildren. You can’t get that electricity, gas, water, etc., back so she could be considered to have permanently deprived you of those things - the textbook definition of theft.
Now I’m thinking about that, I must remember to ask my dad (retired barrister) if this actually is theft and how successful a small claims would be, but due to the time differences between where I live and the UK, I think it’s pretty late in the UK (must be at least around 11pm-ish, and since he always answers my messages immediately, I don’t want him waking up for prayers and then staying up talking to me) but I’m interested to know and will post and let you all know the reply!