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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Does he realise what he done?

73 replies

LocketsandSoothers · 27/08/2020 16:54

This maybe potentially triggering

This is going to be a long one, so bare with me. I don’t even know why this has bothered me so much after 15 years (for the first time I’m angry as opposed to ashamed & sad but truthfully not giving it as much thought as I think I should have.)

For context, which I think is relevant as it’s so small & backward, I live in a small country parish in Northern Ireland. (I have named changed for this and will change again after replying to any comments).

When I was in my early 20s and at Uni in Belfast I started texting a local lad, he’d been after me for ages trying to get my number etc. So we’d text each other fairly regularly over the period of about 2 months. I’d kissed him maybe twice when we ended up bumping into each other at after a night out but never made any plans to meet up. It was just a flirt, never suggestive or anything further than a quick kiss. He seemed like the perfect gentleman although my friends didn’t like him.

One week night when I was up at university I arrived home from the pub (a bit tipsy) when I got a call from him out of the blue saying he’d been in a nightclub in Belfast and his taxi home left without him & could he crash at mine. (Next morning I found out this was not true, he actually was staying at his friends house in Belfast). Being a local lad I said yes of course, it was freezing that night. He sat with my friend & I, chatting on my bed. After she went to bed it was just me & him we jumped into my bed to sleep. I obviously expected that’d we’d kiss and cuddle but after a few minute he got on top of me and starting putting his hand down my under wear. I tried to stop him but but he pinned me down and forced himself inside me. He knew I was resisting him but said things like “don’t be like that now”, like it was game and I was playing hard to get. Tears starting rolling down my cheeks and he was irritated that I was crying. I stopped physically resisting at the point as it was too late. He finished inside me, with no condom, and tried to hide that he had ejaculated. He seemed more embarrassed that he had finished early than anything else. Then rolled over and fell asleep. I was so shocked at what happened I just lay there. I didn’t call out for help to my flat mates I was just so stunned that it had actually happened.

While far from a virgin, I would never have slept with a local lad without being in a relationship. The local gossip is awful.

He got up the next morning and acted normally, as did I. From then on he completely blanked me, apart from the local football team buddies nudging him & clapping his back if I ran into them. At the time this is what upset me most - local people thinking I had a one night stand with him. I was so ashamed and embarrassed. If I ever bumped into him I hid, thankfully our paths don’t cross too much.

Part of me feels he didn’t even stop to think it was wrong, but then I think I was bloody crying. How could he not have known? ...maybe the fact I didn’t shout for help. Maybe the fact I allowed him into my bed. Ugh. Maybe I encouraged it.

So my AIBU is, was this rape and did he realise what he done?

OP posts:
Hailtomyteeth · 27/08/2020 18:04

Yes, it was rape.
Yes, he knew. He knew you didn't want it.
Yes, his mates thought he was really clever.

No part of what happened was your fault. He deliberately tricked you Into having him in your room and he raped you. Please get some counselling.

Bastard.

canyoucallbacklater · 27/08/2020 18:04

I'm so sorry that happened to you, OP. Yes, you were raped and he is an utter cunting shitbag.

You have nothing to apologise for, nothing to underplay and you have done nothing wrong.

I am unsure whether you would be able to pursue anything legally after this time or whether you would even want to but please talk to a counsellor about this. I hate to think how much pain you must be in after bottling this in for so long.

Look after yourself and once again, you have done NOTHING wrong.

eggandbeanss · 27/08/2020 18:09

Yes you were rapes and yes he knew it, but none of this is your fault in any way shape or form

peppermintpigs · 27/08/2020 18:12

After she went to bed it was just me & him we jumped into my bed to sleep. I obviously expected that’d we’d kiss and cuddle

He clearly had very different expectations to you.

MiriamMargo · 27/08/2020 18:15

Yes it was rape, and if you feel you can think about reporting him please think about ringing the police. He could have done this numerous times since

Heffalooomia · 27/08/2020 18:18

@dwiz8

Erm of course it's rape...Hmm
I may have misinterpreted but this seems like an unkind response
heartache590 · 27/08/2020 18:19

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Wereeaglesdare · 27/08/2020 18:20

I just wanted to say that I've been there too. He doesn't give a shit he raped u they never see it like that in their heads because there not wired right. It doesn't help that the man who groomed me told me that boys will be boys referring to when I was raped. The world is full of these disgusting animals and I'm sorry u encountered one too. I didn't talk about mine for fear I lead him on as I was 14 at the time but it makes me angry. But I've had a few awful experiences at the hands of men that make me angry. In my head stupidly I try and think these awful experiences were part of a much greater path that allowed me to meet my greatest love my child. I always think maybe if that awful experience hasn't happened where would would I be now but some days it's hard to not feel so angry at it all. Please talk to someone if you need to but know you are not alone and it is not OK and he should be punished I hope he gets his karma some day.

Pregnantandredundant · 27/08/2020 18:21

For those saying ‘why are you questioning if it was rape?’, something very similar happened to me when I was at university 13 years ago. It’s only now that I’ve realised that it was rape, because it was non violent, not the stereotypical image of rape, I had invited him back to my house, so felt it wasn’t rape because I had said yes to everything else except sex.

OP, you have my sympathies. Yes you were raped.

TheHumanRubbishBin · 27/08/2020 18:22

@peppermintpigs He clearly had very different expectations to you.

Wtf? So?? It doesn't matter what he expected, OP did not consent!

OP - There is support out there for you, if you needed to talk it through with someone non-judgmental and trained for these things.

I am so sorry it happened to you. I wish you healing and peace.

TheHumanRubbishBin · 27/08/2020 18:31

What is this fucking bullshit??? @heartache590 - shame on you.

"Before we start shaming the man, to prove rape, you have to prove HE knew she wasnt consenting. We havent got his version of events, so we have no idea.

The most we can say is her version of events describes rape and we believe her and it sounds horrible - but we cant call him a rapist..."

She resisted him, she was crying?? Pretty good signs that he needed to back off. Instead he just did what he wanted. This is why enthusiastic consent is so damn important.

heartache590 · 27/08/2020 18:31

Wtf? So?? It doesn't matter what he expected, OP did not consent!

In law it does. Rape is when the alleged intentionally commits the offence, the complainant does not consent AND the alleged REASONABLY does not believe the complainant consents.

You need all 3. We have 2 here and a strong case. However they were drinking, so if he was drunk for example, HE couldnt consent. That is why you cant call him a rapist and now you see why the CPS have such low conviction rates.

Janaih · 27/08/2020 18:31

I am sorry that you were raped. And sorry for anyone that this has happened to Flowers

heartache590 · 27/08/2020 18:32

Im not defending him. Just we are on a forum bashing a man as a rapist saying he has done it to other women when we have no idea... Hmm

GilbertMarkham · 27/08/2020 18:34

Im from Northern Ireland too.

Yes, he raped you.

As to whether he "realises" : he'll have told himself you really wanted it, were just playing hard to get or got tricky orvdknd such bullshit and it wasn't rape. Rapists don't usually ever admit to themselves what they did. They'll twist, minimise, lie, excuse etc etc.

He assumed you were up for sex a coerced you/had sex without your clear consent when you showed you didn't want to.

Please get some counselling.

And he should be done for it but sadly it don't much faith in you getting a successful conviction.

plasticpotato · 27/08/2020 18:34

I'm sorry this happened to you. Theres a sexual violence service based in Belfast if you need support Nexus

lazarusb · 27/08/2020 18:36

heartache You are wrong. His 'consent' isn't issue. He knew she wasn't consenting. Sex where one person holds the other down, after they have been asked to stop and actively resisted, and where the other person is crying is rape.

There are no grey areas.

Views like yours are why rapists are getting away with it and why the law on consent seems to be going backwards.

Op, I hope you get the support you deserve, whatever path you decide to take Flowers

MinnieMountain · 27/08/2020 18:37

@heartache590 this is not a court. OP has not identified her rapist here. She is asking for advice. Yes, we only have her version of events but why would she lie to a bunch of complete strangers?

TheHumanRubbishBin · 27/08/2020 18:39

@heartache590 I doubt OP is here to look for advice on the law Hmm I don't think she needs someone trying to make excuses or defend her rapist.
What utter bullshit.

Janaih · 27/08/2020 18:40

To be legally convicted of rape you need a trial and beyond reasonable doubt that you didnt have consent.
To seek support on an internet forum or from a rape crisis type organisation, no trial/verdict/sentence is required.

Serin · 27/08/2020 18:40

Of course he knows he has done wrong.
That's why he cant face you.
The bastard.
I would be half tempted to tell my huge Irish cousins and let them give him a talking to but sadly the "man" who did similar to me, was never found.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 27/08/2020 18:44

It was rape, and it was pre-meditated rape too. I'm so sorry OP. Counselling would be a great idea, unfortunately I don't think you'd get very far with the police and I believe reporting would re-traumatise you.

To the poster who said we're shaming a man - fucking good. I am totally here for shaming rapists who don't understand that no means no and tears are not a good sign.

Grapewrath · 27/08/2020 18:45

I’m sorry OP
I hunk there are many, many women who can look back at past assaults and identify them as rape or assault now. I know in the 90s I was assaulted by a boyfriend who wouldn’t take no for an answer until I ‘gave up’. He was aggressive and I felt coerced. I didn’t protest because it was easier not to after a certain point.
At that time I didn’t recognise that it wasn’t ok. Please don’t blame yourself or question yourself.
I would have some counselling or therapy, I’m sorry this happened to you.

scoobydoo1971 · 27/08/2020 18:51

Please report this man to the police. Of course it may not lead to a prosecution but it will help in future cases by other women. Men with his attitude and level of deception will be most probably repeat offenders. Men who have healthy attitudes to sex like to think their partner is enjoying what is happening...it is part of the joy of it. He just treated you like a piece of meat. You did nothing wrong and you should get psychological counselling to make peace with yourself. You are the victim here, and he will continue offending with other women if you do not show him how wrong his actions are.

MrsSteveMcDonald · 27/08/2020 19:13

He's affected you mentally so much that you are questioning. If someone else posted this and you were reading it then I'm sure you would be saying of course it's rape! While it's very unlikely that anything will happen if you report him, only you will know if it will help you to deal with it. Getting some counselling would be a good start.

Sorry this happened to you and I hope the disgusting mentula has karma catch up with him one day.