Sorry - posting here for traffic as the Divorce/Separation board appears a bit Q, and I know there are often lots of people on the AIBU board. Therefore, I know I'm being U posting here anyway, but here goes...
Husband leaves wife 6 months after the birth of son, and less than two years of marriage. He states that he stopped fancying her when she fell pregnant (despite being the one who pushed for her to fall pregnant) and this grew until he didn't want to be with her anymore. He never raised any concerns prior to leaving at all, and was even talking about 'next baby' a week or so before leaving. He refused marriage counselling, as he doesn't want to try - just wants to be able to go out with his friends when he wants, and do what he wants with no responsibility.
Husband moves back to his parents house (they live alone in a 4bed house).
Husband sees son when it suits him, and barely with any notice, despite knowing what his shifts are months in advance. He spent 3 hours with him last week, and didn't see him on Father's Day, or yesterday due to the football - this was his first Father's Day...
Husband has agreed to have son for one day a week when wife goes back to work next month. He refuses to contribute anything to nursery fees, meaning wife is very limited as to what she is able to work due to costs, and family being unable to commit to helping on specific days.
Husband will be paying the bare minimum in maintenance, and not a penny more.
Husband wants house sold, but wife is unable to afford to buy or rent anywhere else on her own as she will have to cut hours to look after child due to husband's lack of help and support.
Wife can just about afford to keep paying the mortgage on existing house without help from husband when she goes back to work. However, husband is insisting that he can come and go from the house whenever he likes as he has equity in it, despite wife being uncomfortable with this. He refuses to have child elsewhere else (ie, his parents) probably purely out of spite, and therefore continuously has wife on edge as she never knows when he will be in the house.
He refuses to buy anything for son such as clothes and shoes, as this 'should come out of maintenance' (it actually goes towards the cost of keeping a roof over his head, food etc)
What can the wife in this situation do? Apparently can't change locks, as he has an interest in the house, despite not paying towards it. She feels trapped and intimidated by him, and frustrated that he is able to walk away from his responsibility with minimum hassle, whilst her life is a daily struggle.
House is jointly owned. Husband will be paying £260 maintenance, which is what the online calculator says he should pay with his earnings. With this, wages, tax credits and CB, wife will have a monthly income of around £2000. She lives in an area where to rent a decent 2 bed house would cost £1200 a month, so this isn't feasible with other essential costs. She couldn't get a mortgage on her own due to low wage.
What are her options??? Any advice gratefully received - thank you