Long post alert but the details are important to avoid a drip feed.
Around 5 years ago, I found my neighbour swaying drunkenly on his doorstep with his car keys in his hand, preparing to drive to his office to pick up some stuff. I took his keys off him and drove him myself.
He was then 53 and the father of a two year old. His partner had involved social services and denied him access. She was mentally unstable. He was absolutely devastated, began to drink heavily and considered suicide. I supported him massively for months and would sit with him many nights whilst he cried and drank. This was despite serious financial issues of my own after losing our business.
Fast forward a few months, case was dropped and he was seeing his DC. I was still in the midst of our own troubles.
One morning I accidentally reversed into his Land cruiser. He’d only had it a few months. It made a very slight small dent. I knocked his door and he came out, took a look and said it would cost me around £500 and he’d have to report to his boss as it’s a company vehicle. He said that he could say it happened in a car park but was going to say I’d done it as best to be honest. I was really upset as we could not afford this but obviously it was my fault.
He never came back to me and it was never mentioned again, so I assumed he’d decided to leave it as it was only noticeable if pointed out. Obviously I was relieved.
Fast forward to last week, when my DD messaged me at work to say someone had hit her car in the street. Not new but she’d only had it one month. No one came forward from the FB post and we had no witnesses. The damage to the paintwork is quite bad, will need a new bumper and door handle. The only possible hope was ring doorbell footage from my neighbour, so DD called round several times but no answer.
Last night, just as I was going out I bumped into him, very drunk and slurring his words. I mentioned DD’s car and he told me he did it (hence not answering the door) and went on to say it was parked badly (it absolutely wasn’t) and that he couldn’t swing out of the drive. I asked why he didn’t knock the door and he said he was late for work and in a hurry. I’m sure he’d have been over the limit from drink and also smokes cannabis. He then said that his last new car was damaged by me and now this new car is us again. He was quite annoyed and just walked off.
What do we do?