So annoyed with Mr CC

You need to confiscate his credit card.

With regard to husband having too much time on his hands, could you interest him in online puzzles?

There seem to be an infinite variety of free online games which don't involve financial outlay or gambling. I could waste no end of time on them when I should be doing other things.

As I see it, the problem is not so much what to do with the mattresses, but what to do with the DH!

Might I suggest, ClickieyClick, that you sit your DH down and agree with him on the sort of things he, or you, just buy, and which things are only bought after you have discussed with each other why one of you feels the item is needed?

We had too, a price limit - anything that cost more than a certain amount, had to be discussed between us before purchasing.

My husband would have done much the same, it’s infuriating and such a waste of money. Even more annoying he probably said he ‘did it for you’. Mine always said this.

I reported scammers selling fish from a van door to door.
It was inedible.
We had doorbell footage of the man trying to sell me fish, the van registration number, the company name everything!

There were warrants out for the guys arrest and he was barred from setting up a company.

Trading standards and the Police said there was insufficient evidence for a prosecution.

Inform your local Police (NOT 999!). Also there should be a number in your telephone directory where you can report scams, or just Google the Report Fraud Website.
I would think that any of these would have advice on how to get rid of the mattresses - you don't want to pass on the safety problems to anyone else by giving them away, or you could be in legal trouble yourself. Your local council will collect big items for a fee (it was £30 the last time I used the service).
Not wishing to be negative or insulting, but are you sure your DH is fully compos mentis? It can creep up very slowly, so it might be a good idea to get him tested by your GP if you can.
After his strokes, my DH went through a period of buying useless stuff from doorstep salesmen (mostly people wearing ID badges who carry bags loaded with low-end household goods. They can be quite aggressive which frightened him. That habit passed as quickly as it came - unfortunately, I can't tell you why, otherwise I'd pass the secret on.

Is there the remotest chance that somebody in your road might have doorbell footage of the man in van.

I agree with Calendargirl that you should report it as these scumbags need to be stopped.

I think it might be Trading Standards who deal with this sort of thing but Citizens Advice should be able to point you in the right direction.

Surely if they fail UK safety standards, you need to inform the relevant authority, as these ‘white van’ sellers need stopping?