Child custody. Controlling absent father

[Frog73]

I have a manipulative and controlling ex who has not bothered to see his children for over a year. He wanted to control me and the situation and everytime I left it open for him, said he could have the children more, could call etc but he never took this up and wanted control and didn't like the fact I wasn't arguing with him. Hence I received court papers full of lies.
Waiting for my cafcass call still.
Can I apply for residency order for their stability due to their father trying to exhert control over me? He doesn't care about the kids but I want them to have their dad in their life. I have documented everything for over 3 years and kept all correspondence.. He also let the kids down 34 times in 27 months and sometimes left it a month in between bothering to see them. I know he will come out with lies but he has zero proof of me ever ever stopping contact. He doesn't want the kids as he could have had it already but he never accepted it. He is eating he wants joint custody but I know it's all a game and he's using our son and daughter to get to me. I know its now an arrangement order they call it but I'm scared. The children are only 4 and 7 and very settled. I want them to see their dad and they want to as well but he clearly doesnt despite playing the poor doting father act. I can afford to go to a second hearing with solicitor in tow but I'm scared it will drag on.

[Frog73]

Anybody else been through this? Or similar.

[UmbongoUnchained]

I haven't, but you should probably get this thread moved to chat as its nothing about blogs and people won't see it.

[IonaMumsnet]

Hi OP. We're going to move this thread over to Legal Matters for you in a moment.