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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Who do I believe?

206 replies

JohnPrescottsPyjamas · 02/03/2022 11:00

Adult DS and GF have been together for 6 years. Met overseas and she has come back to live with him from another country. Always had a pretty good relationship with her although she can be a little sensitive over certain issues so have learnt to just be diplomatic. She is 32, 6 years older than him.

Hysterical phone call received from her last night telling me he had locked her out of their flat. She said they’d rowed earlier, she’d gone out in her car to walk the dog. When she got back, he wasn’t allowing her back in and not answering her calls. As she was safe, I suggested she just waited in the car until things perhaps cooled down and asked if she wanted me to try and call him to talk to him? She was adamant that wasn’t a good idea so I wasn’t quite sure why I was called.

She was sobbing, told me she was very scared of him and that he had a very nasty temper. This genuinely alarmed me as DS has always been seemed pretty chilled and unless he’s very good at deception, we could be talking about a totally different person. I asked if he had been violent and she told me he had once ‘punched’ her in the arm in the car when they were driving. Without being there, I have no idea what his version of events was and I’m actually very alarmed to think my DS might be treating women like this.

Whilst staying in the phone to me, she tried the door again and got straight in. I could hear her shouting at him for locking her out - he denied he did - clearly he didn’t know it was me on the other end of the phone and I could hear everything. He tried to apologise but she accused him of not meaning it. She made a great big deal out of it to him, keeping on and on. Surely, if she was frightened of him, she wouldn’t have continued to up the anti and be attempting to diffuse the situation?

She regularly goes back to her home country alone to her family. Her and DS have no children, I own the property they are living in and apart from DS she has no ties to this country. If he was that controlling or scary, why does she keep come back or am I in denial about my DS?

I posted on here 18 months ago about a dog saga too. She acquired this part German Shepherd puppy, despite my DS not wanting her to, but he relented. She didn’t agree with formal training and this combined with lack of socialisation in lockdown has made it into a potentially dangerous animal that has already bitten DS. Again, if DS was that much of a ogre, why would he still tolerate the dog or even allowed her to have it in the first place?

When he visits us (she rarely comes because she can’t leave the dog alone without company) she constantly messages him. Maybe it’s because he’s controlling, but again if he was, why would he leave her to do her own thing? She has her own car, comes and goes as she pleases, does online tuition/translation and doesn’t appear to be a ‘prisoner’

My DD can’t believe her brother is as violent as the GF is implying and thinks she was just trying to get her version of events in first. I don’t want to think my DS is an abuser and if I found out he was, adult or not, I would be down on him like a ton of bricks.

DH and DD thinks GF was very wrong to get me involved in their argument and that she’s the one being manipulative but it still worries me that any woman might be scared of my DS. I really want to hear his version of the situation but tbh, also want to keep well out of it too.

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 14/03/2022 08:49

When my daughter broke up with a complete and utter twat I introduced her to break up bingo where I guessed what he'd do and she ticked off the list as he did them. It made her realise this wasn't personal but something so many people do after a break up.

JohnPrescottsPyjamas · 14/03/2022 08:53

I can’t believe this!

The witch has changed her mind again and said she’ll call the police if we don’t hand the dog over. I’ve told her unless she signs it over, I’m refusing her access to the flat to collect her stuff.

OP posts:
Glittertwins · 14/03/2022 08:57

I remember your previous posts too. I thought at the time your DS was the one on the receiving end, not the GF and it still sounds like that now. Definitely for the best that he gets out of this relationship.
I know a vet would not PTS a healthy animal but I hope she doesn't try to make something up to get her way. A dog is both something that should be disposed of in such a way simply because "if I can't have it, nobody can" - from what you said, the dog can be rehabilitated with proper training and love

Glittertwins · 14/03/2022 08:58

** not something

Sswhinesthebest · 14/03/2022 09:15

Poor dog.

From what you’ve written it does seem as if she is the problem. Hopefully when he’s out of it, he can analyse where he went wrong so to avoid similar relationships in the future,

MajorCarolDanvers · 14/03/2022 09:29

@JohnPrescottsPyjamas

I can’t believe this!

The witch has changed her mind again and said she’ll call the police if we don’t hand the dog over. I’ve told her unless she signs it over, I’m refusing her access to the flat to collect her stuff.

Don't even respond to her.

Be at the flat at 2pm to get her stuff out and close the door at 4pm

Any idea what time her return flight is?

Would she even have time to get her stuff and destroy the dog?

girlmom21 · 14/03/2022 09:34

@JohnPrescottsPyjamas

I can’t believe this!

The witch has changed her mind again and said she’ll call the police if we don’t hand the dog over. I’ve told her unless she signs it over, I’m refusing her access to the flat to collect her stuff.

Remove the dog from the property. The police aren't going to waste time and money looking for it.

She's moving abroad. She has no plans to take it with her and presumably doesn't have the time or money to stick around and fight it.

FilthyforFirth · 14/03/2022 10:08

I am far from an aminal lover, and I especially dislike dogs and even I think this is utterly horrendous. Simply refuse to hand the dog over, I dont believe the police will care. I didnt read your previous thread but she is clearly the abusive one. Poor DS.

WallaceinAnderland · 14/03/2022 10:18

Just ignore her. I doubt she will involve police and even if she does I doubt they will make you hand over a dog to be destroyed.

romdowa · 14/03/2022 10:41

Is text her and tell her that the dog has gotten out and ran away 🙈🙈 if the police turn up they are hardly going to launch a search party for an escaped dog. It's unfortunate timing but these things happen.

Nopetryagain · 14/03/2022 10:57

I would simply not engage with her, remove the dog from the property and she will have to leave. If she calls the police your son can explain she intends to have the healthy dog killed in some weird symbolic act to mark the end of the relationship and he is not permitting the destruction of an animal on her weird whim. She sounds like a total nutter.

JohnPrescottsPyjamas · 14/03/2022 11:41

@Nopetryagain

I would simply not engage with her, remove the dog from the property and she will have to leave. If she calls the police your son can explain she intends to have the healthy dog killed in some weird symbolic act to mark the end of the relationship and he is not permitting the destruction of an animal on her weird whim. She sounds like a total nutter.
Excellent point. That kind of sums it up perfectly.

I’ve messaged her and told her she cannot have access to my property without giving me formal notice and a list of items she wishes to collect. I live an hour and a half away. DS is coming to my place with the dog. When she arrives off her flight, there will be no one there and she has no key so she will need to ‘negotiate’ with me to gain access. He’s hidden the key where she will not find it until I tell her.

Part of the negotiation will be transferring ownership of the dog to DS.

She’s informed DS this morning that she will also be reporting him for abuse. With what evidence I have no idea. There are no photos of injuries, no threatening texts from him, no prior complaints, no witnesses.

OP posts:
APineForestInWinter · 14/03/2022 12:25

He’s hidden the key where she will not find it until I tell her.

Are you seriously thinking of giving her access to the property without a chaperone?

APineForestInWinter · 14/03/2022 12:26

Her things should be bagged up and delivered to her at a neutral location

WallaceinAnderland · 14/03/2022 15:08

Don't let her in the property OP!

JohnPrescottsPyjamas · 14/03/2022 15:14

@WallaceinAnderland

Don't let her in the property OP!
She’s landing in the next hour or so.

She’ll arrive and it’s all locked up so she’ll kick off and probably ring me. If I insist on her transferring dog ownership to DS, is that extortion/blackmail?

OP posts:
WallaceinAnderland · 14/03/2022 15:17

I think you should just meet her at the property to supervise whilst she gets her stuff and leaves. If she asks about the dog just say that's nothing to do with you, she'll have to speak with DS. Just make sure she gets her stuff and goes. I doubt she will be back for the dog.

Zwellers · 14/03/2022 15:21

I might be missing something here, but how can she prove its her dog, rather than your ds's

coloradoqueen · 14/03/2022 15:29

@Anniefrenchfry

Isn’t that gaslighting her? Locking her out then lying that he didn’t? Because I would bet good money that’s exactly what he did.
Why is that your immediate reaction? My first thought was actually that the GF sounds unhinged.
Munchcrip · 14/03/2022 15:39

F

HirplesWithHaggis · 14/03/2022 15:40

@Zwellers

I might be missing something here, but how can she prove its her dog, rather than your ds's
It could be chipped to her.
LaTangerina · 14/03/2022 15:41

Best of luck, hope she takes her stuff & goes!
Did you change the locks?
Otherwise she might have a copy of the key.

JohnPrescottsPyjamas · 14/03/2022 15:47

@Zwellers

I might be missing something here, but how can she prove its her dog, rather than your ds's
I think the dog is registered/chipped in her name.
OP posts:
Gonnagetgoing · 14/03/2022 15:48

OP - I would honestly let her do what she wants (apart from put dog to sleep) and then back off fast from this and advise your DS to do the same.

She sounds very toxic.

Munchcrip · 14/03/2022 15:51

Don't let her in your house unattended.
My friend's mum had an issue with her tenant, right before he left he poured cement/concrete (cant remember which) all over the house, in the sinks, down the toilets, in the baththub, etc...

Be careful OP, she sounds really unstable