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Urgent help and advice needed. Am I being unreasonable?

42 replies

Mammabear8120 · 27/09/2021 19:04

left my ex partner 6 years ago and ever since I left he goes through phases of turning up at my home unannounced and uninvited. He has asked me at least 3x a year to get back with him which I'll never do and make this clear to him. Our child is now 8 and is having her mental health affected by him.
Last October he met someone and suddenly wanted our child over night. I agreed as she wanted to go to his. He then took her to his new girlfriends who he'd just met and stayed over night there with our daughter. His girlfriend allowed her to sleep in a room with him as she was scared in an unfamiliar environment with strangers she'd never heard of or met before and they told her she could sleep in that room with her dad but next time she'd have to sleep in with one of her boys.
I had feeling something wasn't right and tried to ring her that night but got no answer and he didn't reply to my text either. The next day he brought her home (late) and she was hysterical when he was going (which has never happened before).He then found it amusing to tell me they'd been to sleep at "this girls" that he'd met. I was furious bit didn't say much until he had gone then had my say on the phone later on that night. He had also given our daughters dog to this woman and her kids.
He wouldn't accept his actions were wrong and I stopped our daughter stopping over night again.
They had an on off relationship (very volatile) and he kept turning up at mine for advice or saying he was depressed etc. I told him each time I didn't want to know as if it didn't concern our child it had nothing to do with me. He doesn't listen to me. At one point he came round, threw himself on the floor crying and said he wanted to die and has nothing to live for infront of our daughter. He then started looking in my cupboards for pain killers and alcohol and said he was addicted to them both (his best friend was in rehab for this at the time and he was putting much of this on as a show as I could tell he didn't seem genuine). He got back with this woman and after a few months of them being back together I was steamrolled into allowing our daughter to stop over at their house (as he'd moved in with her). That very evening I had a phone call at 10:30pm from the police that there had been a domestic incident and I had to go pick our daughter up from a location 30 min away on the motorway. When I got there our child was traumatised and he was outside with the police who wouldn't allow him to go back into the property. They were both steaming drunk and the girlfriend had a black eye, bruising all over her body, scratches etc and our daughter had heard her screaming and them fighting. I told him that night that if he ever got back with her that my daughter would not be in their presence ever again. This was 9 weeks ago. Since then he has been turning up army house every other day saying he's bored or asking for advice, he won't leave if our daughter let's him in - he kicks off his shoes and lies down on the sofa sleeping or on his phone . He's helped himself to food and drinks and gets very hostile and verbally abusive when I tell him to go. I started blocking the door so he can't just walk in my home and he tries to push past me or uses Amy excuse to try to enter my home. I've been firm with him and he calls me miserable, freak a weirdo etc to my daughter infront of me! I rang the police last week as I've had enough of feeling trapped in my own home. If he's not turning up he's ringing me non stop and texting me. I get abuse off him all the time. The police have now spoken to him and over the weekend I got messages off him threatening me that his family will be having words with me as I need telling. He's a narcissist which is why I left as he mentally abused me for years to the point I had a break down of sorts. I'm seeking legal advice but I desperately need some advice and support in the meantime.
My daughter tells him when he rings her that he has to make arrangements through me but he still does it through her telling her he'll have her on a certain day or will take her for tea etc without asking me if it's OK or making set arrangements. He's always last min with these plans too such as on the day or straight after school. She often doesn't even want to go with him as he says inappropriate things to her about me, his mates, his family, his job calling people names and talking to her like an adult. He won't listen to reason at all and twists everything to others to make me seem the bad one for saying no to things and installing boundaries. He demands to see our daughter and never asks if he can see her etc its always "I want to see _ tomorrow after school" or "She's coming to a christening tomorrow". He plays mind games with our chikd and leaves her confused and always let's her down with broken promises. Becomes out with unrealistic things to her too such as he's going to go to America to become a famous UFC fighter.All he talks about is himself -, if its to talk to him about our child he always brings it to him and his needs etc. I'm so so tired of it all and fed up. I don't really want him having access to our daughter until I've seen a solicitor but am I being unreasonable with this?
He turned up last week knocking (before I rang the police) and he knocks really lightly like a tap so I know it's him and the neighbours can't hear. I told him to leave from my bedroom window or I'd ring the police. He took 10 min to go then messaged me 20 min after going saying he was coming to tell me he was back with that woman he had the fight with and put a laughing face at the end of the message. I didn't reply and he knows I won't allow our child to go near them together again. He seems to have a fixation that I'm jealous of him having this woman which couldn't be further from the truth my only problem is the events that have taken place and how these things have affected our child who's only 8 years old. He also doesn't believe in covid and says its all a conspiracy so when we were in lockdown he told our daughter I was brainwashing her and she doesn't need to wash her hands or wear a mask etc and said I'm a sheep and unstable.
Am I wrong to stop contact for my daughter and get arrangements in regards to contact etc set our through a solicitor? No matter what I say he goes against it. I have anxiety from all thus, I can't sleep at night and then go to work full time and feel like I'm suffocating.

OP posts:
Polkadots2021 · 27/09/2021 19:22

Oh God this is utterly insane. Get to a solicitor literally as fast as you can, he is damaging your DD so much. Hey all this on paper legally and formally limit contact as much as is physically possible.

Polkadots2021 · 27/09/2021 19:22

*get, not hey

Scottishmummy12 · 27/09/2021 19:29

Try and speak to a solicitor to block him from seeing your daughter. I would also let the school know what is going on incase he turns up at the school.
I would be phoning the police every time he turns up. I would also look at investing in a ring door bell this way you would have proof of harassment.

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Ginger1982 · 27/09/2021 19:30

Stop all contact. Block him from phoning your child. Do not answer the phone or door to him.

ItWorriesMeThisKindofThing · 27/09/2021 19:36

There may be grounds here for a non molestation order. Ask your solicitor or look online at the gov.uk pages and see what you think

Lifeisshortandbittersweet · 27/09/2021 19:39

Please contact women's aid too, they can help in situations like this, an see a solicitor as soon as you can, the contact needs to be stopped due to the affect its having on your daughter. An it needs to take place in a supervised contact centre by the sounds of it, if it does start again, an a court order can ensure that . Women's aid, reporting everything that's happened to the police, an a solicitor could altogether help arrange a non molestation order through court so that he cannot turn up and harass you and your daughter.
Sounds horrendous for you both.
I'm sure others on here will be able to advise you better than me, I just couldn't read your sad post and not respond.
My ex husband was like this many years ago, so my heart goes out to you both, it's hell to deal with on your own so please get as much help and support as you can find . X

Suzi888 · 27/09/2021 19:39

Ring the police, see a solicitor ASAP.

Mammabear8120 · 27/09/2021 20:11

Thank you. I'm at my wits end. I just can't cope with any more of it. It's affecting our chikd yet he doesn't care as it's all got to be about him and his needs. I rang a solicitor today but they've not rung me back yet, will ring them again tomorrow. Only problem is I work in a school and can't get time to make this call during school hours.
The police warned him last week. I've forwarded the messages he's sent me over the weekend to the officer I spoke to. I've had yet another message off him asking if he can pick our daughter up from school for tea tomorrow. She attends an after school club but they've said without it in writing from a solicitor they can't stop him taking her if he turns up there.

OP posts:
Mammabear8120 · 27/09/2021 20:12

I feel like I'm going insane. I told the police I think that's what his intention is to drive me over the edge

OP posts:
Mammabear8120 · 27/09/2021 20:13

The police mentioned this I think

OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 27/09/2021 20:18

Use one of the parenting apps to communicate or get a second phone for all calls but his. Only look at the one he has the number for once a week. Refuse his calls, block him. If he tries to get in the house, call the police, every time. Do not allow your dd to answer the door. Can you add a lock that only you have a key for so she can’t open the door?

LukeDogWalker · 27/09/2021 20:19

Refuge
Freephone 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Please call this number for help

anunseemlylovefordustin · 27/09/2021 20:22

My bio dad was like this, parts of your original post made me go cold because he sounds so similar (I'm 49 now!) My mum was too afraid and beaten down after years of abuse to protect us and stop us seeing him. It's had a lasting effect on us all. Speak to women's aid, keep speaking to the police to get every incident on record, speak to a solicitor to start the process of getting a court order (and sounds like a non mol order would be possible too), get a camera doorbell and start collecting evidence of texts and calls, visits etc. Can you record him while he's in your home, for your own safety? Stop your daughter seeing him until a court order is in place. You CAN do this, you are strong and if you get some support around you from people who can help you and who see through his bullshit, you can protect your daughter and yourself from him.

Mammabear8120 · 27/09/2021 20:26

I've never heard of a parenting app, will look at these now

OP posts:
Imnothereforthedrama · 27/09/2021 20:29

Sounds a terrible situation but no you are not wrong to not want contact . Get some advice from citizens advice , look into getting a solicitor . but no he’s unstable and he shouldn’t be getting unsupervised contact.

Mammabear8120 · 27/09/2021 20:29

My daughter feels sorry for him all the time and us so confused with things he tells her. I remind her I love her and do everything I can to protect her. She told me tonight that he said recently she doesn't need a car seat anymore and I try to make her look like a baby making her sit in one and that I did this to my older child (who's 21) when she was the same age and people laughed at her for it. He didn't even know me at this time and I didn't have a car then either plus non of it is true. She's 8 and only little in height too so needs the car seat

OP posts:
Mammabear8120 · 27/09/2021 20:32

Thank you. He's manipulated me and our child so much I can't tell which way is up at times. He's relentless too. He blames it'll on his mental health but he knows what he's doing. I feel so bad stopping her having contact as my mum thinks I should let her go out for tea with him but she's never been through anything like this.Plus it's what he'll say to her when she's with him and then how much more damage this causes.

OP posts:
Innocenta · 27/09/2021 20:35

He is abusing your child. I'm so sorry this is happening - keep fighting it, you are not wrong, you are not overreacting, you are correct that he is unstable and scary and bad for her. When she is grown up, she'll understand.

Fallagain · 27/09/2021 20:42

Yy to ringing women’s aid and the police.

In the meantime block him on your phone, social media etc. Get a doorbell with a video and don’t answer the door to him.

Lifeisshortandbittersweet · 27/09/2021 20:43

I can totally understand how overwhelming this is, and the worry of him taking her from school is a real concern.
Is there no way you could go with your daughter to a friends for a couple of days, just so as you have time to get hold of solicitor, to speak to the police properly an ask for an officer to come and see you - the safety of your daughter is so important, an although it's hard to tell your work what's going on at home you may well find that they are supportive, and hopefully understanding of you needing a couple of days off. Your daughters school may also be able to help and support you both.
If you were able to speak to a solicitor tomorrow they could contact him saying you will be arranging supervised contact due to the affect him and his life is having on your daughter, and to request he does not contact you or turn up at your home in the meantime.
From what you've said regarding the incident where the police asked you to come and collect your daughter during the domestic violence incident with his partner, there will be evidence with them regarding all this. X

Mammabear8120 · 27/09/2021 20:50

My boss at work wasn't very supportive when I tried to talk to her, it was uncomfortable and I didn't feel like I can go back to her with any of this. She just said I'm letting him do this and enter my home. I don't think my having afew days off will go down well either as I've had appointments for my daughter over the past few weeks and she's been funny about that too... I don't have anywhere I can go stay unfortunately either

OP posts:
Gilead · 27/09/2021 20:51

National Centre for Domestic Violence will draw up a non molestation order for you. It’s free.
www.ncdv.org.uk/

CornishTiger · 27/09/2021 20:54

Ask Police to do a DVPN whilst you do a non mol order.

iloverock · 27/09/2021 21:05

You need an emergency appointment with a legal aid solicitor. You need a non molestation order and a prohibited steps order to prevent him removing child from your care or school etc.

Make a list of bullet points with dates etc that he has made threats etc.

Hunkydory99 · 27/09/2021 21:11

OP I know this is naughty but can you take some time off and blame covid? I wouldn’t usually suggest it but I really think you need to get a few things sorted ASAP.

Like others have said:
Speak to the police about what you can do especially relating to the school and dads ‘right’ to pick them up and getting help with a non mol order or DVPN
Speak to social services, the police will likely have already made a referral and it will open up doors for help towards non mol order
Get in touch with a solicitor - most do 30 free minutes
Start locking your front door so he can’t just walk in and every time he turns up do not engage with him, call the police every time, don’t even open a window to warn him. If he gets in call the police straight away. You need to treat him like a very naughty child and don’t EVER let him get his own way. The second you start engaging with him it will escalate
Block his number from your phone and your daughters
Really wishing you the best of luck and take care of yourself x