Sam, we might not know the circumstances, but to have a longhaired cat in that state and then to just leave them in a box rather than physically hand them over says a lot.
I would love a longhaired cat, but not sure I could cope with one, both with teh grooming and my asthma, so I wont adopt one will I can foster one to check - and would you believe I have been fostering for over 3 years and not had a longhaired in yet, something has stopped me taking in everyone we have been asked about!!