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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not know what to do

30 replies

medusa83 · 16/09/2018 13:01

ExBF / father to my 2 children and I split up over 6 years ago. Left him due to his aggression, irresponsibility and selfishness. The icing on the cake was when he invited a friend to do a line of coke in front of our children as I was reading them their bed-time story on a Sunday evening- I finished our relationship the next day-).

I initiated the split. He was awful- aggressive, pestering. He accused me of having an affair and spent the next few months ruthlessly following me. He has never paid child support (aside from a few months when CSA took money out of his bank without him realising- then he changed his account and it stopped). I didn't sign up to the new CM system as I dont want to provoke him. He was a constant source of worry when he had contact (kids taken to rough pubs/ having one-night stands with women when they were round/smoking & heavy drinking around them- and I was worried about drugs). He would harass me- eg letting himself in to my house while out and going through my messages. Threatening me. Assaulted me. Emotionally manipulative to the DCs. A man with a massive victim complex and anger issues.

I moved to another town to get away and met a man who is now my husband. Lovely, caring, has taken the children on as his own. Very family-orientated.

Contact witb ex gradually became less frequent- and with each contact he would cause an issue eg not turning up, turning up hours late, being too hungover to come, lying about where he was and what they were doing, slagging me off to the DC- calling me a slag and a slut.

Eventually I'd had enough- it wasn't healthy for the DC and I told him that if he failed to turn up again or stick to agreed arrangements we would need to go through the courts. He failed to turn up for the very next contact and so I NC'd and started to go down the court route. I had a meeting with a mediator and explained that I wanted to get set times that he would need to stick to. She asked why I was doing that, as it wouldn't be enforceable and that it should be him doing this (and pay for it!). I texted him to tell him this and if he wanted contact he would need to go through the courts and it would be at a contact centre.

This was about 2 years ago and he hasn't initiated any proceedings. However, what he has started doing is just turning up, shouting and banging on the doors and windows and sitting outside waiting.

He has done this today. My daughter is out and my son and myself are in the living room with the curtains closed. He has gone off for now (DH told him we were out) but I am sure he will be driving round looking for us in our area (its a 90 mile journey back for him).

I actually feel quite scared and don't know what to do. He has said he has "rights to see them", he doesn't want to go through the courts. He told my DH that he suspected him and I were having an affair (we started dating 2 years after we'd split up!). He is paranoid and angry.

What should I do? What's the next step? He told my DH he will come around all the time now. The kids don't want to see him and I don't feel confident they'll be safe. I can't hide in my living room forever.

Any advice? Not really an AIBU, but I need some help.

OP posts:
bigfishlittlefishtupperwarebox · 16/09/2018 13:05

I have no experience to help you, but if it was me I would call the police next time he turns up. I don't know if they will be able to do anything, but surely it's worth asking. If he's causing a disturbance I would expect them to come and tell him to sod off at least...

As for contact, I would think he would have to go through the courts, and if the police do get involved it won't look good for him.

medusa83 · 16/09/2018 13:11

Thank you. I was thinking that maybe I needed to go to a solicitor and get a letter asking him not to just turn up? However I wouldn't know where to send it as I don't know where he lives now. I'm not sure if the police would do anything if he was just sat outside when they arrived? Should I warn him first that I will do that? I called the police on him once before when it was late at night and he was in my house and refused to leave. The children were in bed but heard the police come round (he knocked the phone out of my hand and hung up on them but they traced the call and came round anyway). I don't want to escalate anything or damage the DC. They are doing very well and are quite settled.

OP posts:
bigfishlittlefishtupperwarebox · 16/09/2018 13:28

It's all very well not wanting to escalate it, but you can't carry on like that, and he's unlikely to just go oh well, yeah, I'll stop now. You know him best, how will he react if you tell him you're going to call the police if he doesn't leave? Would he take notice of a solicitors letter?

medusa83 · 16/09/2018 13:35

If I threatened to call the police he would become more angry and shouty and then leave before they got there. I don't know of he would take notice of a letter. It's a bit of a mess.

OP posts:
FeedMeTikka · 16/09/2018 13:35

I’d ring the police each and every time he turned up, he’s harrassing you and for your sake and your children’s you have every right to stand up to him. If he actually wanted contact he would have been to court and sorted it by now-he doesn’t he just wants to play the victim and scare you in the process.
His own children are scared of him and don’t want to see him, that speaks volumes and depending on their age if he did ever go to court their wishes would be taken into consideration.

calmandbright · 16/09/2018 13:37

I can’t see any other way than police involvement. You’re hiding and scared in your own home. Plus if he did decide to pursue seeing the children through court process (although I highly doubt he would) the police reports etc would ensure that he’d be more likely to have to see the children in a contact centre instead of putting them at risk by giving him free reign to take them to dodgy pubs etc during his contact times. What are his parents like? If they are reasonable, could it be an idea to let him see the children at their grandparents house for a short time every week? Start building a case against him, and protecting yourselves from his frightening behaviours.

Sforsh49 · 16/09/2018 13:41

Please contact the NCDV. Although you’ve not rung Police often you have suffered DV at his hands. You need an injunction and this organisation will get you one, quickly and at little or no cost to you. Please take control, and when you get an injunction make sure it has a power of arrest and that you call the Police the moment he breaches it, you need to do this for your kids, if not for you. Good luck OP
www.ncdv.org.uk/

Hidingtonothing · 16/09/2018 13:45

Ring the police, without warning him first, every single time. A solicitors letter bears no legal weight so would be a waste of money, especially with someone abusive like your ex. What he’s doing is harassment/threatening behaviour so police should take it seriously. Document everything, including past incidents you can remember rough dates and details for, it may come in useful if he does decide to go to court for contact. Play this by the book, use the official channels open to you and stop letting him make you live in fear Flowers

Singlenotsingle · 16/09/2018 13:46

Have you thought about moving? I know its a bit drastic, but needs must. He's clearly unbalanced, and I don't think I'd be happy letting the DC go with him anyway.

JennyHolzersGhost · 16/09/2018 13:48

OP you need to take this very seriously. This man is potentially violent. PLEASE go down the official route - police, injunction, document all communications from him. I don’t wish to scare you but this kid of behaviour can get dangerous very quickly.

Maelstrop · 16/09/2018 13:49

Police, every time. 999. Don’t tell him you’re calling them. How old are the dc?

Losingthewill1 · 16/09/2018 13:50

You need to contact the police when he turns up! Keep a record of it

SoyDora · 16/09/2018 13:53

I wouldn’t threaten to phone the police, or tell him I was going to phone the police. I’d just phone them.

DarthLipgloss · 16/09/2018 13:54

My twins dad was like this. Ring the police every time. Don't let him bully you in your own home. He won't stop unless you do this. Mine eventually got arrested, he stopped after the second time he got arrested, but like you i just let it go when he first started coming round causing trouble.

JennyHolzersGhost · 16/09/2018 13:55

If he knows where they go to school then you need to warn the school too about the possibility of him turning up and let them know he doesn’t have permission to take them.

Juells · 16/09/2018 13:55

See if you can see his reg number so the police can track him down if he leaves before they get there. I don't think you have any option but to phone police.

MatildaTheCat · 16/09/2018 14:00

Get a web cam as evidence and call the police each and every time. Start a diary including today. I think you would be able to obtain an injunction quite easily to prevent him coming to your home causing fear.

Contact Women’s Aid or a local agency for advice. He’s an abuser and you call the shots not him in protecting your children and family life.

cheesefield · 16/09/2018 14:41

How old are the kids?

YippeeKiYayMotherNature · 16/09/2018 15:40

If he comes round again just call the police, don’t tell him you’re doing it just do it.
It might also be worth calling 101 to ask for some advice now and so there’s some record and if you’ve got the money have an initial chat with a solicitor and ask their advise of what you might need to do after he next shows up.

medusa83 · 16/09/2018 17:42

Thank you for your messages. The DC are 12 and 7. Last time this happened they were both really upset and I later found out from others that my daughter was very worried that she would be made to see him.

The afternoon has passed off without incident. He must have gone home.

Apparently he told my DH that if he isn't allowed to see them he will be calling social services on me.

When he first moved out he rented a flat. He refused to buy them a bed to sleep in, and spent all his money on a 3d tv instead so I had to buy him a set of bunk beds for them.

I have a full-time job in teaching (middle management). I tutor to make some extra income. The children are well-fed, clean, high attendance to school (1-2 days off per year), have friends over, both do lots of extra-curricular activities, are given lots of love and hugs. Both are doing well at school and I managed to tutor my daughter through the 11+ - all with no help (and active hindrance) from ex. I am a billion miles from perfect, but don't think I warrant an SS referral. For him to threaten me with social services...I just can't believe it.

Thank you again for all your comments. I will be looking into some of those agencies you've suggested and seeing what can be done to prevent this in the future.

OP posts:
medusa83 · 16/09/2018 17:48

He has never shown an interest in their schooling so does not know which schools they attend.

OP posts:
medusa83 · 16/09/2018 18:14

I also like the webcam idea and will buy one tonight.

OP posts:
JennyHolzersGhost · 16/09/2018 18:16

Him threatening SS is yet another reason for you to proactively get the authorities involved ASAP. It will make it harder for him to shape the narrative.

Hidingtonothing · 16/09/2018 22:11

Totally agree with Jenny, getting your side in first makes more difference than you’d think, it means you’re the complainant rather than the one being complained about and that will give you an initial upper hand. It would also make it much easier for SS to believe you when you tell them any complaint he makes against you is malicious if there’s an ongoing harassment case against him.

Losingthewill1 · 17/09/2018 17:00

Why are you allowing this man to do this to you?