Past domestic abuse. Do you think Womens Aid will be able to do anything here?

[Pifflewiffle]

I divorced my ex in 2007 after his serious financial and emotional abuse left me homeless and liable for £150,000 debt he built up by forging my signature, setting up bank accounts in my name and stealing my inheritance. He also financial and emotional abused my elderly Father. I was housed by a housing Association who know about all this. Ex was given a custodial sentence for fraud at work but what he did to me and my family wasn’t included in their case even though they took statements, knew exactly what he had done to me and asked if id be a witness for the prosecution if necessary.

Anyhow my housing assoc phoned me to today to ask if I ever had an injunction or non molestation order against him, in case he applied to move into one of their properties (it’s an ethnic housing association and a lot of our community end up in one of their properties when they get older. If I had some sort of order they could make sure he didn’t end up near me. For them to contact me I’m guessing he has asked to apply for a property. I’ve contacted the Womens aid for my community but do you think there’s anything that can be put on my file that would enable to HA to keep him as far away from me as possible. The thought of having to see him on a regular basis makes me feel physically sick. He’s a total bastard who doesn’t even think he’s done anything wrong even though he ended up in prison. He was never physically violent though he did throw stuff around the room and smash things with his fists when I told him I’d found out what he’d done. Sorry this is so long.
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Hiya

I'd start by talking to a lawyer. With it being so far back, they may advise there aren't enough grounds now. Or, with it being so serious, they might say do an affidavit and give that to the HA. If the HA have more or less asked you to do this, I'd at least look into it.

I am sorry for all you have been through.

something2say. Thanks. I was really hoping not to involve solicitors as it’s so expensive but if that was the only way to keep him from moving near me, I’ll do it.

I used to work for Women's Aid, and if things are as they were when I was there, they should be able to put you in touch with an IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate) who can help you with this.

They may suggest you take it to a MARAC (multi-agency risk assessment conference) who bring together people like the police, your housing association, etc. so that they all understand the full picture and can help you.

But you do need to talk to some authorities and WA is a good place to start – it may end up requiring a solicitor, but doesn't have to be a solicitor right away.

monsterstuckiosa. That’s so helpful. Thank you so much. Ive got a reply this morning after the email to my Community’s Womens Aid (it’s not THE Womens Aid but the one for my ethnic group who hopefully are linked) and they said they could open a case for me and suggested I ring their head office and ask for support from their client support team and they’d discuss the situation around housing and support where they can. Since my HA phoned me yesterday I’ve had a rising sense of dread at the possibility of having to see my ex regularly . I’ve not had this feeling for years .

I’ve just come off the phone to the Woman at our Woman’s Aid. She was lovely and very understanding but basically said that after all this time, if he’s not harassed or attempted to contact me in any way over the years, the courts would take that into account and not see a need to issue a non molestation order or injunction. She said she understood how triggering it would be if he were to move near and suggested explaining what he had done in more detail to my HA if I felt able to and had enough confidence in my HA to do so, and asking them if they can take this into considering and consider moving him as far from me as they are able. The problem is that the HA are trying to fill the few flats that are still available in my block so I’m fearful he’s shown internet in one of them. I have no idea how any of them are still empty with housing waiting lists as long as they are. I know it’s an ethnic HA but there are all nationalities and religions in here and it’s a brand new build.