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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Report this man to the police even though I'm partly responsible

168 replies

WhiteLilys · 21/05/2018 12:46

Ok so I know I'm going to be flamed for the part I played in this situation but hear me out first and try to understand my reasoning (I'm a young lone mum with bad anxiety) but admittedly I am absolutely crap at dealing with these sorts of situations and feel out of my depth. The relationship before my last one was extremely abusive and has left me with fractured self-esteem when it comes to being assertive with men I am still quite nervous around them in general.

About 3 weeks ago as I was walking home somebody tried to talk to me as I was passing their flat. I didn't know them and it was a stereotypical youngish cat callar, they asked for my number to which I replied "no sorry got to dash"

Now them flats are on the very end of my road however my road is a main one and continues for around 2ish miles. As I reached my own place about 10 minutes later I noticed he had followed me down on a bicycle, by this point my pram was in my doorway and there was no hiding the fact I live there. I was spooked, again he asked for my number but I had a really bad vibe this time and he was coming across as pushy and a bit intimidating.

I had my young baby with me and just wanted him away from my flat so reluctantly I gave him my number so he would leave. When he later made contact that evening I rejected the call and I sent a text back saying I did not have given my number as I wasn't interested and felt a little bit intimidated being approached for a second time on my own property and didn't feel comfortable enough to assert myself. He replied with a simple ok and then I blocked his number.

Now on my phone you can tell when blocked numbers have tried to contact you as an alert comes up in the call log. Has been repeatedly calling me the whole time although he's calls are automatically rejected. Last week I received a call from a number I didn't recognise and it was him. He asked who he was talking to to which I replied my name and then it became clear who he was. Before I could hang up he said he had been riding past my flat every day and he had seen my ex-partner leaving my flat with our child and that it had in his words pissed him off. I told my son's father all about what had happened and he said I should call the police because it's strange. I didn't do that because I know I would be ridiculed for giving my number in the first place.

I told him he didn't know me and I found his comments to be unnerving so asked him not to contact me anymore and delete my number. Then hung up the phone and added this new number to my block list.

Fast forward to this morning I am speaking to my ex partner in my porch as he brought our son home from taking him out, this guy rides right up to my house before turning and going down a side street on his bike. He then comes back and as he does he's staring at us and deliberately jingles his heavy bike chain as if to be in a threatening manner. XP said enough is enough if you don't call the police I will as he is not happy for this to be going on with our young son in the house.

I'm feeling very nervous as I'm in here alone the majority of the time. Exp lives half an hour away but works a shift pattern that means unless it is his day off he is asleep for most of the day. Am I even entitled to go to the police about this given how I willingly handed over my number the second time? I feel absolutely ridiculous for having given him it but I was so on edge and just wanted him gone. I feel that whatever I would have done at that point the man would have been a nuisance regardless that's what sort of person follow somebody up the road after they decline to give their number. Had he not came onto my property and therefore known where I lived I wouldn't have reacted the way I did. I felt intimidated as per my anxiety which is sky high at the minute regardless.

I definitely need to make sure I stick to my guns in future regardless and I don't blame you for thinking I'm an idiot but please can somebody advise me whether this is something I can actually go to the police about?

OP posts:
Rulerofmyheart · 21/05/2018 14:42

You're doing exactly the right thing in contacting the police and absolutely will not be laughed at. I had a similar situation and the officer i spoke to offered to send someone to my house to take the details and was insistent that I had been right to call.

None of this is your fault, you were in a very uncomfortable situation and acted to diffuse it calmly, get yourself and baby home safely in the short term which is what happened. You then told the man clearly you weren't interested and did not want further contact then blocked the number. You weren't to know this would escalate.

I would recommend against giving a wrong number in future. In my experience men will often call the number while you are there and the unpleasant ones can get shirty if it doesn't work.

Far better to work on your confidence at saying 'no' (generally speaking, not saying that you didn't do what seemed right on this occasion).

It makes me so angry that you're going through this. Especially with a baby.

Shoutylady · 21/05/2018 14:43

Glad to hear it went so well. Please don’t let this absolute douche canoe get you down, he sounds like an absolute dosser

Rapunzel15 · 21/05/2018 14:44

I have been in almost this exact situation.
You have played absolutely no part in this and should definitely go to the police. No one should feel unsafe in their own home

spookytime · 21/05/2018 14:48

Make sure you show the police the times they rang and write down all the times you remember him walking/riding past.

CoraPirbright · 21/05/2018 14:56

OH well done OP! And very best of luck tomorrow for your meeting with them. In the meantime write a (bloody long) list of all the interactions you have had with this git: missed calls, threatening behaviour, everything. He needs telling.

JessieMcJessie · 21/05/2018 14:57

Great. Well done OP!

ClaryFray · 21/05/2018 15:01

It because you've given him your number doesn't give him the right to treat you as he has been. Call the police.

BlueJava · 21/05/2018 15:06

Please report it and please keep a written log of date/time/what happens. The police will want to know stuff like that and it could be useful later. Don't feel bad - you should not be ma.de to feel intimidated

CaMePlaitPas · 21/05/2018 15:07

This person's behaviour isn't your fault at all. You wanted to get rid of him, because you weren't thinking clearly you didn't call the police then and there and instead made a decision to give him your phone number because you felt threatened and intimidated. I don't see why you would blame yourself for this, please go to the police you have done nothing wrong.

WhiteLilys · 21/05/2018 15:08

Every call he has made to me it's still in my call log even though after being blocked they auto reject so I have a full log of every time he has made contact, I've also kept the text log where I have told him I am not interested. I've also left my ex a message and let him know what's happening and that they may need to speak to him about seeing the guy this morning and making a statement to that effect.

I'm really glad I've done it but I'm still a little bit worried in case it escalates as he doesn't seem one to be easily deterred, especially after seeing my ex on my front making threatening gestures with a bike chain then going away and calling me again. He seems not all there to be honest

OP posts:
Aeroflotgirl · 21/05/2018 15:09

I agree, please go to the Police, you were coerced into giving your number, and he is no stalking and harrassing you.

WhiteLilys · 21/05/2018 15:09

This sort of behaviour is what you would expect from somebody you had been in a relationship with not some random down the street, it is really unnerving

OP posts:
Aeroflotgirl · 21/05/2018 15:10

I always used to give my number with a couple of wrong digits to people like that.

astoundedgoat · 21/05/2018 15:11

You did a great job calling the police. If you need someone else there with you tomorrow, get your Mum over too.

Slapbetcommissioner · 21/05/2018 15:12

It's sad that this sort of behaviour is 'expected' from anyone.

I'm glad you've gone to the police, you're in no way responsible in any way for his behaviour. None of it is your fault. I hope you feel a little bit better having spoken to the police Flowers

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 21/05/2018 15:14

Not your fault, this is all on him. Go to the police.

RandomWordsStuckTogether · 21/05/2018 15:14

Glad you’ve reported it to the police.

What you’re experiencing is stalking. Unfortunately, how seriously it’s taken depends on the level of police training in your area. Until fairly recently stalking wasn’t a crime in and of itself and some police forces are slow to catch up on the criteria for a stalking offence. Often the stalker receives a slap on the wrist and a warning to stay away, which usually only makes things worse.

Do check out the advice on www.paladinservice.co.uk it’s a charity that helps victims of stalking and can help you deal with making complaints to the police and making sure things are followed up correctly.

GalwayWayfarer · 21/05/2018 15:14

You have done NOTHING wrong, please don't blame yourself. You gave him your number because you felt vulnerable and didn't want to escalate a scary situation - that's completely understandable and not your fault at all.

Please go to the police. This man is behaving in a frightening and unacceptable way. The police will not blame you, and will support you. You haven't don't anything wrong and you won't be blamed.

I hope you're ok Flowers

BeefyCakes · 21/05/2018 15:15

You have absolutely done the right thing. Well done.

LifeBeginsAtGin · 21/05/2018 15:16

Can you get a photo of him on your phone (only if safe btw)

WhiteLilys · 21/05/2018 15:18

For those who haven't read the entire thread I have reported it to the police and they are coming to take a statement from me at home tomorrow afternoon x

OP posts:
WhiteLilys · 21/05/2018 15:19

I think I would struggle to get a picture of him because I wouldn't be able to see him unless I was outside the house

My home is on a main road so it is rare I have my blinds wide open as people can see straight into my living room

OP posts:
OlennasWimple · 21/05/2018 15:35

Hopefully the police will be able to put a stop to this quickly

Flowers None of this is your fault

Birdsgottafly · 21/05/2018 15:42

You've done the right thing.

"I just don't understand why he is behaving the way he is"

Women often get sucked into abusive cycles and situations escalate because we are bought up to be kind, think about what might be going on for the other person. When we need to just protect ourselves and worry about us.

"He seems not all there to be honest"

He could have existing MH issues which have worsen because of cannabis use, or it could be the effects of being a heavy Cannabis smoker. Which is why the solution is never to get a burly male mate involved and to do what you have done.

keep your neighbour in the loop because the Police may give you an alarm.

Florene · 21/05/2018 15:43

She doesn't need a photo of him Hmm She has his address and phone number, and can provide a description. The police will deal with it now.

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