Posted in AIBU as well as trying to get as many suggestions as possible.
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?