Lodger taking me to court

Hi,

I am new to this forum and will appreciate ur advice.
I took in a friend/lodger approximately a year ago and he has only paid me utilities bill about 3 times since moving in and we have no contract in place.

We have not been getting along for a couple of months and bout two weeks ago, I lost my keys and when I took his keys to go and cut, I was physically assaulted. The police were called and it was agreed on condition that I will not press charges that he will leave the property and come back after 3days to collect his belongings.He retained the keys to his room and the key to the front entrance was collected from him and given to me, furthermore on the day, he kept saying he is a tenant and I have no right to evict him.

On the day he came to collect his belongings, I called the police and on coming in, he advise the police that he only came to take some of his stuff as he is seeking legal advice but will return the following week. I was advised to serve a Tort notice that entry will be forced into the room and his belongings will be placed in a commercial storage unit which I did and giving him an extra 14days to remove his belonging.

Yesterday, I received an email from his solicitor that I am in breach of the protection from eviction act 1977 and that I should make arrangements to return the keys by recorded delivery to their office.

I have become a nervous wreck since this started and I do nothink I can afford solicitor fees right now, therefore I will appreciate advice on how to deal with this and should I also press assault charges.

Thanks in advance.

Adell