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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do I end this based on hearsay.

211 replies

Emotionstorn · 29/01/2026 12:28

Been dating my partner since August. He has a child from a previous relationship but have no plans to introduce children until later.

He has told me him and his ex had quite a stormy breakup. Arguing etc and she told his friends and family that he hit her.

He denies this completely. Has sworn on the life of his child he has never done that.
I have experienced DV historically and I don’t know whether to walk away based on this or not.
There are no red flags or anything that I have seen myself

i just don’t know what to do

OP posts:
Happyjoe · 29/01/2026 17:34

Taztoy · 29/01/2026 17:33

Unlike you, who’s just passive aggressive?

No, I was to the point, asked a question then pointed out lack on continuity. You're just on full on attack.
I am not the enemy here.

TheInkIsBlackThePageIsWhite · 29/01/2026 17:34

Happyjoe · 29/01/2026 17:32

Wow, you're rather aggressive.

That's not aggression, that's simply a truth that you don't like so you have to try and invalidate it somehow.

Taztoy · 29/01/2026 17:33

Happyjoe · 29/01/2026 17:32

Wow, you're rather aggressive.

Unlike you, who’s just passive aggressive?

Taztoy · 29/01/2026 17:33

Women don’t owe men a sexual relationship. No man is owed a sexual relationship from any woman.

and proceed with caution could get her raped or killed.

Happyjoe · 29/01/2026 17:32

ThatCyanCat · 29/01/2026 17:30

I will "pop up" as I please on a public discussion, sir. And if you can't see the connection and implication between an OP asking if she should continue seeing a man accused of violence and another person responding "look at aaaaall these women who lied", then may I suggest that you should not be lecturing anyone about continuity.

Wow, you're rather aggressive.

BrownBowl · 29/01/2026 17:32

Excellent posts by @ThatCyanCat

Benjaminbraddock · 29/01/2026 17:31

thistimelastweek · 29/01/2026 12:41

I'm always suspicious of people who swear on the lives of their children.

Me too, theyre always wronguns in my book.
get out now @Emotionstorn , don’t worry about benefit of the doubt, there’s plenty more fish in the sea, throw this one back.

Whether it’s ‘hearsay’ or not, is your life or that of any children worth the risk?

ThatCyanCat · 29/01/2026 17:30

Happyjoe · 29/01/2026 17:29

Which I had already said/discussed on an earlier post.

I was responding to someone else when you popped up quoting my post, not in relation to what I was talking about. Continuity was lacking.

Edited

I will "pop up" as I please on a public discussion, sir. And if you can't see the connection and implication between an OP asking if she should continue seeing a man accused of violence and another person responding "look at aaaaall these women who lied", then may I suggest that you should not be lecturing anyone about continuity.

Taztoy · 29/01/2026 17:29

ThatCyanCat · 29/01/2026 17:22

And I'd add...

Even if you are a man who has been falsely accused of abuse, the decent response is not to attempt to coerce women into dating men who have been accused of violence, drawing parallels between a woman saying no and a man being falsely imprisoned. It's an absolutely fucked up message that only shows misogyny and entitlement. You being falsely accused does not oblige any other woman to enter an unsafe situation to prove anything to you at all. What the fuck.

That list of women's names that guy gave earlier. Two women a week are killed on average in England and Wales by a partner or former partner, and that's before we go into all the rapes and assaults, most of which never see a report, never mind a conviction. I wish our list were so short I could slip it into a post on Mumsnet!

This.

Happyjoe · 29/01/2026 17:29

ThatCyanCat · 29/01/2026 15:21

It's the point of the discussion. It is the point being made by someone who responds to an OP asking if she should continue this relationship by telling her stories of the rare women who lied, as if we don't know that happens, as if that isn't exactly what OP is struggling with.

Despite what some posters are saying, we are all aware that some women lie about abuse, though most don't. And no woman has to prove herself by dating a man when the risk/reward ratio is in the gutter. He swears on his child's life too, that's a dumpable offence even if he is the only person in the world to do that when telling the truth.

Which I had already said/discussed on an earlier post.

I was responding to someone else when you popped up quoting my post, not in relation to what I was talking about. Continuity was lacking.

ThatCyanCat · 29/01/2026 17:26

All these people saying "proceed with caution"...

What does that mean? She would already be incautious to continue a relationship with a guy she barely knows who has been accused of violence and swears on his child's life. She already has a history of DV. How do you continue to date this man while still remaining cautious? What more must happen?

ThatCyanCat · 29/01/2026 17:22

TheInkIsBlackThePageIsWhite · 29/01/2026 17:15

Have you seen the amount of people on the thread know one or even multiple women have accused a man of violence, and then suddenly the woman has told everyone the 'truth' at a later date as well.

Unbelievable really.

And I'd add...

Even if you are a man who has been falsely accused of abuse, the decent response is not to attempt to coerce women into dating men who have been accused of violence, drawing parallels between a woman saying no and a man being falsely imprisoned. It's an absolutely fucked up message that only shows misogyny and entitlement. You being falsely accused does not oblige any other woman to enter an unsafe situation to prove anything to you at all. What the fuck.

That list of women's names that guy gave earlier. Two women a week are killed on average in England and Wales by a partner or former partner, and that's before we go into all the rapes and assaults, most of which never see a report, never mind a conviction. I wish our list were so short I could slip it into a post on Mumsnet!

Taztoy · 29/01/2026 17:17

A clear Clare’s law means Jack shit. My rapist was clear on Clare’s law.

Uhghg · 29/01/2026 17:15

I’d do a Claire’s law and proceed with caution.

I know a few people who have lied about being hit but also know many people who’ve experienced DV.

I would probably be more concerned that he comes with drama rather than having an abusive past.

TheInkIsBlackThePageIsWhite · 29/01/2026 17:15

Tillow4ever · 29/01/2026 17:12

Isn’t it amazing how many men who have been victims of lying women accusing them of DV have found this thread and shared their stories, or stories of their friends. And how that one guy knew not one but two men who were victims of these liars. Incredible given the odds shared earlier that 0.01% of reports are false.

Makes me consider the agenda of any man who comes to try to encourage a woman to give a man who chance who has told her he’s been accused of assaulting his ex.

Have you seen the amount of people on the thread know one or even multiple women have accused a man of violence, and then suddenly the woman has told everyone the 'truth' at a later date as well.

Unbelievable really.

Taztoy · 29/01/2026 17:13

You can dump a man / end a relationship for any reason at all. Even if that reason is just I feel slightly uneasy.

Men need to learn to accept the word no.

Blusnose1875 · 29/01/2026 17:12

Pure and Simple, yes

Tillow4ever · 29/01/2026 17:12

Isn’t it amazing how many men who have been victims of lying women accusing them of DV have found this thread and shared their stories, or stories of their friends. And how that one guy knew not one but two men who were victims of these liars. Incredible given the odds shared earlier that 0.01% of reports are false.

Makes me consider the agenda of any man who comes to try to encourage a woman to give a man who chance who has told her he’s been accused of assaulting his ex.

AcrossthePond55 · 29/01/2026 17:07

@Emotionstorn

By 'hearsay' do you mean you heard it from a third party and he denies it or that he told you what she said and said she was lying?

If the former I'd give consideration to the source. If they are someone you believe would know the truth AND it's someone you trust to not have an ulterior motive for blackening his name I'd probably end it. But if it's someone likely to be stirring or just repeating gossip I might give him the benefit of the doubt but I'd keep my eyes wide open and be on alert for any sign of aggressive behaviour (for any reason) or unreasonable anger. And I include things like throwing tools or objects down in disgust if things aren't going right, breaking something that doesn't work, or angrily cursing at other drivers even with the windows rolled up. Those are not normal reactions.

If he told you himself and denied it, I'd probably give the benefit of the doubt, but watch him the same as above.

Charlize43 · 29/01/2026 17:06

I would end it now. Sometimes it is better to be left with good memories and vodka.

TwistedWonder · 29/01/2026 17:03

thistimelastweek · 29/01/2026 12:41

I'm always suspicious of people who swear on the lives of their children.

Yep. I dated a guy who swore on his grandkids lives every time he lied.

Jollyhockeystickss · 29/01/2026 17:02

HUGE HUGE HUGE red flag because he is letting you know who he is and also hes playing the victim and slagging off his ex and telling you its all her fault and thats huge red flag, hes also telling you to ignore the tittle tattle when people tell you as its not true(which it is) ..id be inclined to ask her why would she lie to you

ThatCyanCat · 29/01/2026 16:59

hearsayshesay · 29/01/2026 14:55

This is a very dangerous mindset assuming guilt of someone when you have no facts - google these names and come back and tell me how that mindset helps you sleep better at night:
Eleanor Williams
Jemma Beale
Chloe May
Sophie James
Fleur Smith
Nadine Milroy-Sloane
Angela Uramova
Gail Sherwood
Layla Ibrahim
Ayushi Bhatia

Edited

On this thread so far, you've accused women of "finding someone guilty" for refusing to date them if they're concerned about their safety, as if female company is as much a man's right as liberty and women are obliged to reach court levels of proof before they decide they don't want to date someone, stated that a horrible story of women falsely accusing men of abuse (assuming the stories are even true) had "made your day" and now you're claiming it's "very dangerous" when a woman decides she doesn't want to date someone because there's a question mark over the safety, as if that's equivalent to imprisoning someone on no evidence. The danger to the woman isn't of any concern to you.

Women's dating choices aren't courts of law and a woman's company is not a man's human right. I'm sure you don't realise it, but all your posts very much make the case for women being exceptionally careful about who they date and not taking any chances, because there are those out there who agree with you that they have a right to a woman unless she produces a court approved dossier of evidence why she doesn't have to say yes... and many of them don't stop at merely trying to pressure them online.

Gymnopedie · 29/01/2026 16:58

Swearing on the lives of his children = methinks he doth protest too much.

allthingsinmoderation · 29/01/2026 16:34

Claires law application .
I doubt many men who have assaulted their partners admit it ......
If nothing on Claires law,i would be very very cautious with him and if you have any doubts at all.... run.

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