Friend broke jewellery

[Bunnyboilerfriend]

I had my friend stay the night last night, I waved her off goodbye this morning.
I said something unwittingly last night that made her think I’m after the same man she is, I am not. He is a mutual friend. I could see she was upset and tried to clarify things, she said she understood and she was fine. We both went to bed. Me upstairs. Her downstairs.
After I have seen her off this morning, I have just noticed a number of my jewellery on the hallways console are either broken or bent out of shape beyond recognition.
They were fine last night, there is no one else here who could have done it. I could see she was not only upset but angry last night, but seemed to have composed herself and it was resolved.
I have just sent a text to her saying can you tell me what happened to my jewellery on the console?
I am so shocked and upset I’m almost shaking, I feel so betrayed and violated.
What can I do next?

Don't think she is your friend any more.

Is the jewellery expensive, unfixable, family heirloom ?

I think you have to accept it as the cost of your friendship. And put it down to them being vindictive and spiteful.

Why have you started two identical threads with different titles?

I think OP wants advice about legal recourse here, whereas on the other thread she wants advice about the friendship.

Based on your other thread, you don’t have proof so I doubt you have any legal recourse. She says you stumbled and fell on the console. You say you didn’t and have surmised she broke them out of spite. It’s she says versus she says. I doubt you’d get anywhere legally.

From a legal perspective this would be a small claim. You don't need to prove beyond reasonable doubt that she damaged your jewellery, but you do need enough to show that, on the balance of probabilities, she is responsible for the damage. Of course, going down the legal route will mean the end of your friendship if it isn't over already.

If you think you have enough evidence to convince the court that she is responsible for the damage, you need to send her a letter before action. This is a letter setting out how much she owes you, showing how you have calculated this amount (e.g. quotes from jewellers to repair the items), giving her a deadline to pay (28 days is normal) and saying that you expect to take legal action without further notice if she does not respond satisfactorily by the deadline.