To think there is no genuine reason a 40-year-old man would be interested in a 22-year-old?

Why on earth did she feel the need to tell him she was on her period?

Generally I think men go for much younger women because women their own age have more experience of the world, are more confident and much less likely to take any crap from a man!

If only.

There are a couple of threads going on Mumsnet right now where exactly that has happened. It's not that uncommon. I know of several cases in real life, too. Of course, most women call it quits before it becomes an entire lifetime, but it certainly happens - and it can lead to years of abuse.

I have friends with a similar age gap, they've been married over 25 years and she was about that age when they met

It was at work so not quite the same situation. He hadn't been married before they met and I've never seen anything to suggest he isn't a perfectly normal human

Obviously this is of absolutely no relevance to your daughter, just an anecdote that it can work

He’s probably married. Similar happened to my dd she was 24 her ‘boyfriend’ was 45. Turned out he had a wife and 4 young dc. His wife found out. Dd was devastated and felt stupid and he turned nasty. It was horrible.

I'd be suspicious too - his motives are almost certainly sexual rather than genuinely getting to know her etc - BUT you know, he's saying the right things to allay suspicion of this.
Your daughter, however is saying the wrong things! There's no need to tell him about her period before they've even dated! 😯

He actively wants someone young, less experienced and established, and more easily influenced, so that he can groom her into being his ideal, subservient partner, and begin a lifetime of abuse.

Dramatic much?

He wants to take her out for dinner on Monday. She's told him she's on her period, and he says that's fine, they're only going for dinner, and he doesn't want sex with her on their first date

I can’t even imagine going into this level of detail with my mum about an upcoming date

YANBU. You're absolutely right, and I'd say that reason 2. is more frequently what's happening. Or alternatively, the equally frequent reason 3. He actively wants someone young, less experienced and established, and more easily influenced, so that he can groom her into being his ideal, subservient partner, and begin a lifetime of abuse.

A person can have loads of interests in common and be good friends with a person in a different life stage, but in a romantic relationship, one partner already being into middle-age while the other is only just starting out as a young adult, is no good at all.

Of course, there's no way she'll listen to you, I imagine. We always think we know best and our situation is different at that age.

Yes total ick. Men like this are just looking for a young woman they can control, in my opinion. He’ll be telling her how mature she is for her age and other nonsense to reel her in.

All you can do is to share your wisdom on this matter, be careful not to criticise her, and be there for her when it all turns sour.

It’s awful watching your kids make mistakes like this.

Omg I'm so sold.
Do women actually tell prospective partners They're on their period before first dates??

OP I'm with you. I've no doubt this guy is very interested in your DD, but not necessarily for her anime chat.

Sex is a genuine reason (albeit creepy when there’s such an age gap).

But I think DD has moved it into sex territory by telling him she’s on her period. There was no need to say that before a first date. She’s basically signalled that she would have considered sex on the first date and is ‘warning’ him it won’t be on the cards.

No, that's exactly how I would take it aswell, I would assume there was somthing wrong with him for him not to be with a woman his own age and sniffing around a 20 odd year old with little life experience