Private Seller Rights....Advice Needed

Megaroo89

My sister recently sold a laptop on Facebook which had a couple of faults (i.e. battery missing but usable with power cable) and was otherwise in working order, and we have evidence to prove this. The gentleman who purchased the laptop was fine with the condition it was in but messaged my sister later on in the evening to say it no longer worked. My sister said she would happily give him a refund and take the laptop back. When he returned the laptop it was in a complete state, the screen is damaged and one of the hinges has fallen off. He claims it was like this when he took it from her which is false and we have photographs to prove this. She can no longer sell the laptop as it is completely damaged. Does this warrant criminal damage and should we call 101? Or what should we do? I have researched online (and contacted CAB who are closed for the night) but could not find anything on private seller rights only consumer rights....please help.

RFW

First, are you sure it's the same laptop?
How did you get the laptop to the buyer?
Photographs of a good condition laptop aren't proof that that was how the buyer received it. They're just pictures and could have been taken any time.
You could try a court claim but it's not clear cut you'd win and if you do it's not certain you'd get any money from the buyer.
You could try the police but they won't be much help unless the buyer has done anything before.
Maybe post on the Facebook page it was sold on and see if anyone can help there.

DoctorFoster

A person who without lawful excuse destroys or damages any property belonging to another intending to destroy or damage any such property or being reckless as to whether any such property would be destroyed or damaged shall be guilty of an offence.

It was his laptop when the damage was sustained so it's not a matter for the police. You will be told this is a civil matter which it is.