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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Think our relationship is over. TW sexual assault

161 replies

Costacosta220 · 25/04/2025 07:59

I posted about this when I fist found out but 4 weeks ago my DS aged 19 disclosed to me he had been sexually assaulted by my partners brother. I have been with partner 7 years. He lives with us. I have younger children who are early teens. I have known the brother a couple of years longer as we had a shared hobby.

My son doesn't want to report it to the police. No evidence and his word against the brothers being the reasons. PP on that thread said to be led by my son and respect his wishes. He's doing OK with everything that's happened. He simply said he doesn't wish to be on his own at any time going forward with the brother. That's a given and won't happen. The man won't ever set foot in my house again.

I told my partner who was shocked. Upset. In denial. Trying to come up with a logical explanation. Angry. Suggests perhaps his brother is gay and attracted to younger men and has 'mis read' the signs. His other two brothers and their father have been told about it. I went with him to tell one brother. And they told the other brother and father a few days ago due to logistics of getting people together in the same place. No one wanted it done over the phone . I respected this timeframe. I haven't spoken to the man who assaulted my son. I haven't contacted him or approached him.

My partner and family say the brother will be spoken to... then what ???

It's caused so many rows in my house between us. He seems massively in denial and to be honest it's pissing me off. My son has been assaulted and he's trying to come up with reasons why it's all a misunderstanding. I am angry. Absolutely boiling with furious rage.

I feel I have let My son down by not going round there and beating this c**t into next week. I want now to tell the brother I know and to tell him he either admits it to the family (so they can stop their denial and delusion) or I am going to the police and will tell everyone. I am looking to shake him up basically.

He's got away with what he's done. Scott free.

My partner won't cut his brother off..he's said that. I haven't actually asked him to. I simply said it leaves a bad taste in my mouth that he would want to speak to him and associate with him any more than is humanly necessary. Eg at family gatherings when it can't be avoided. I don't like him trotting off to their hobby together or meeting up for finner etc. Its complicated by the fact they own a property together. Which the brother lives in and My partner stays at from time to time. He lives with us 95% of the time.

My partner has his family to speak to and he sees a Counsellor every few weeks (long before this happened ) so he has a safe space to discuss. I don't.. no one knows and I cannot tell my family. All hell will break lose. My family would 100 per cent cut off someone who did something like this if it was in our family. They have done before. Also my son doesn't want people knowing. Sadly there is a stigma about this kind of thing and he doesn't want it getting out.

I am just turning on my partner. I know its not his fault the blame lies with one person. But having a chat with the brother. Then what ? Nothings going to change. It will just be swept under the carpet won't it.

I am fucking angry and feel it's incredibly fucking disloyal to me and my son.

Any advice and sorry for the swearing but I am so so angry

OP posts:
Curioushoney · 25/04/2025 08:00

This reply has been deleted

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Barrenfieldoffucks · 25/04/2025 08:01

Woah, how is the OP failing her son?!

Curioushoney · 25/04/2025 08:02

Your partner and his entire family would never step near me or my children again

Curioushoney · 25/04/2025 08:03

Barrenfieldoffucks · 25/04/2025 08:01

Woah, how is the OP failing her son?!

The brother was able to sexually abuse a very young boy

and now the OP tells her partner and her partner doesn’t cut links and the Op is still with him??!

this entire family would be out of my children’s lives forever from within an hour of my DS confiding in me

Costacosta220 · 25/04/2025 08:03

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Pardon ?

OP posts:
Curioushoney · 25/04/2025 08:04

I am fucking angry and feel it's incredibly fucking disloyal to me and my son.

and it doesn’t seem to have occurred to you to end the relationship with your fucking partner

Curioushoney · 25/04/2025 08:04

Costacosta220 · 25/04/2025 08:03

Pardon ?

Exactly that

the fact you’re still with your partner despite his stance is truly shocking

I’m going to leave don’t worry op. Makes me feel sick and sad for your boy

Curioushoney · 25/04/2025 08:05

The posters liking my posts need to comment!

ViaBlue · 25/04/2025 08:05

You need to leave your partner. You have younger children, you need to find out if it has been done to them too..the attitiude your partner displays makes him an enabler!
Your poor son...

BlahBlahBittyBlah · 25/04/2025 08:07

Anyone who was in any way making excuses for, or minimising, or trying to cover up quietly the sexual abuse of a child of mine would be dead to me. You can respect your son’s wishes to not press charges, but you don’t have to tolerate anyone being anything other than totally incensed by this. They would all be gone from my life, every last one of them.

MadeForThis · 25/04/2025 08:07

You need to end the relationship. Your ds needs to be surrounded by people who support and believe him. Not by people who just want to make excuses for an abuser.

Curioushoney · 25/04/2025 08:08

BlahBlahBittyBlah · 25/04/2025 08:07

Anyone who was in any way making excuses for, or minimising, or trying to cover up quietly the sexual abuse of a child of mine would be dead to me. You can respect your son’s wishes to not press charges, but you don’t have to tolerate anyone being anything other than totally incensed by this. They would all be gone from my life, every last one of them.

Edited

Thank you

it wouldn’t even be a decision I had to think about for a nano second

SilverButton · 25/04/2025 08:08

You need to leave your partner OP. This is unforgivable. I know he wasn't the one who did it but he's minimising and making excuses.

TaylorSwish · 25/04/2025 08:09

You said -

My partner won't cut his brother off..he's said that. I haven't actually asked him to. I simply said it leaves a bad taste in my mouth that he would want to speak to him and associate with him any more than is humanly necessary. Eg at family gatherings when it can't be avoided. I don't like him trotting off to their hobby together or meeting up for finner etc. Its complicated by the fact they own a property together. Which the brother lives in and My partner stays at from time to time. He lives with us 95% of the time.

So they want to continue to socialise with the person that sexually assaulted your child and you will let them?

Imisscoffee2021 · 25/04/2025 08:09

The relationship is over because of his reaction to this information. And alot of crimes are one person's word against another and they till see justice done, and at the least it would at least expose the brother to the police and put him on their radar for the future. So if I were you I'd be supporting your son in getting this crime logged with the police, and making plans to end your relationship due to the reaction of your partner unfortunately.

He's on the defensive for his brother and protecting him, yes feelings can't be switched off overnight towards his brother after a lifelong relationship but he could have given you and your son his support properly and kept distance from his brother while things are being investigated, and he hasn't, he's gone on the defensive.

Costacosta220 · 25/04/2025 08:09

Of course it has occurred to me as so politely put to end it. Hence all the arguments. I was told in a previous post to listen to the wishes of my son who's almost 20 years old . An adult. He was an adult when this happened. My son wanted time to think about the police being involved and whilst that happened the family be told. Which I did. I told my partner the same day my son disclosed this. I haven't seen or spoken to his brother since. He's not been in my home. Meanwhile my son has asked for time to think

If I was down to me the police would be told and the brother arrested . Make no bones about it. If it were down to me every single man woman and child in England would know about it. But my adult son does not want that. His wishes are important. I have never doubted him and his version of events for a second and have made that crystal clear.

OP posts:
SamDeanCas · 25/04/2025 08:11

I’m so sorry this is happening to your son and you.

Personally I couldn’t be in a relationship with a man who would continue to have a relationship with someone who sexually assaulted my son. I’d never want to see my DP or his awful family again.

I agree that your sons ‘should’ report this to the police, but you need to stand by his decision not to and support him 100%. Firstly by taking him out of the environment and not seeing ANYONE who knows and willingly still has a relationship with this man and secondly arrange councilling for him

Costacosta220 · 25/04/2025 08:11

ViaBlue · 25/04/2025 08:05

You need to leave your partner. You have younger children, you need to find out if it has been done to them too..the attitiude your partner displays makes him an enabler!
Your poor son...

My other children have never ever been alone with the brother. We don't have loads to do with him. My son being an adult did as they attend the same hobby which is how this happened. Its not a hobby which involves children . The brother isn't married or in a relationship and has no kids of his own.

OP posts:
TaylorSwish · 25/04/2025 08:11

Not reporting it to the police, when and if your son wants to is one thing. Continuing a relationship with the family who don’t believe your son and enable his abuser is another.

Mrsttcno1 · 25/04/2025 08:12

Surely at the point your partner is going for lunch with the man who sexually assaulted your child the relationship is completely over, bags packed and the ex is never to be seen again? Am I missing something?

Birdsongsinging · 25/04/2025 08:13

I would leave a partner who minimised the sexual assault of my son and maintained a relationship with the perpetrator.

Curioushoney · 25/04/2025 08:13

Mrsttcno1 · 25/04/2025 08:12

Surely at the point your partner is going for lunch with the man who sexually assaulted your child the relationship is completely over, bags packed and the ex is never to be seen again? Am I missing something?

You’re not missing a thing

GabriellaMontez · 25/04/2025 08:14

Was your son a child or adult when this happened?

When did it happen?

heldinadream · 25/04/2025 08:16

@Costacosta220 I have no idea why pp are coming down hard on you. I think you are in an appalling situation and you and your son are both still reeling and trying to work out what to do. It seems to me that your bottom line is that you have your son's back. That's right, that's the correct baseline. You are doing great.
If your partner doesn't come round sooner rather than later to seeing your pov, then the relationship will, indeed be over. You seem to know this.
The best practical advice I can give you is to get some emergency support for you, counselling, therapy, whatever you can find. You need to be as strong as you can be for your poor son.
Wishing you both well. Take care of yourself please. 💐

Doggymummar · 25/04/2025 08:16

GabriellaMontez · 25/04/2025 08:14

Was your son a child or adult when this happened?

When did it happen?

He was 19, recently