Definitely agree that waiting 8 months is going to raise all sorts of problems in itself. The SECOND time he failed to make contact/return contact, I would be starting to take things up a notch. You are FAR too patient Graham!
Though Peter, do NOT under estimate what the Police may or may not consider "trivial". When we lived in Perth, the local constabulary certainly did not consider such things petty or not worthy of their attention, though we did live in Armidale at the time, which may explain things
A word in their ear is sometimes all it takes to at least flag the attention. More than once and a complaint escalates.
At the very least, I think some of you Westies should arrange a meeting with Brendan and see whats the matter.