Roofers' ladders left in our garden and owes us money

[Daisy14]

Hello everyone.
I would like to ask your advice as I am at a loss what to do...
We had ground workers doing some work in our garden earlier in the year. One of them turned out to be a roofer, we needed roofing work done so we agreed in August 18 an amount for him to do the roofing work. We thought he was trustworthy so gave him some money up front (won't do that again..) £600 in total - to hire a tower etc.
He dropped his ladders off at our house and then was let go by the ground workers company as he was unreliable. We haven't seen him since. He told me by text repeatedly that he was coming to do the work but never turned up so on 22nd October I asked for a refund. He agreed but the funds have never been returned. He has now claimed that he has a friend coming to collect the ladders and who will hand over cash - he has told me 10 different times now that his friend is coming so I think his friend does not exist.
I don't think I will get my money back - I don't have an address for him so can't go through the small claims process and I suppose if he has no money there's no point in chasing him for what doesn't exist.
How do I stand with the ladders? I don't want his roof ladders as they take up loads of room, can I dispose of them?
Thank you for reading my post and any advice you may have - I am so fed up with the situation.

[2222]

You could take them to the dump, or even sell them for a few pounds. He can sue you for their value, but you can offset the £600 he owes you.

Curiously, when I was in a similar position, I just gave the workman his tools back. I didn't like the idea of depriving him of his livelihood, however undeserving he was.

[Daisy14]

Thank you 2222. I have asked him for his address, he won't reply and said he's moved to Leeds which is 200 miles away from us. The groundworkers don't know where he is. It would cost a lot to hire a van to take the ladders back to him. I think he wouldn't give me his address so I can't pursue him in the courts.

[2222]

All you can do, then, is tell him to arrange to pick the ladders up within say the next two weeks or else you'll dispose of them. He cannot really complain after that.

[pt2537]

I just gave the workman his tools back. I didn't like the idea of depriving him of his livelihood, however undeserving he was.

A great plan but for the fact that the OP has no idea where this bloke is or where he lives, its a tad hard to hand something to the invisible man

[2222]

A great plan but for the fact that the OP has no idea where this bloke is or where he lives, its a tad hard to hand something to the invisible man

It's clearly his responsibility to pick the ladders up. It goes beyond reasonable to pay to transport the ladders back to him!

[Daisy14]

Thank you 2222 and PT2537 for posting. I will text him today and give him 2 weeks to collect the ladders or I will dispose of them - unless he wants to pay me of course...!