I have personally reported quite serious crimes to the police and nothing has ever been done. My partner, before we knew each other, reported their ex for for rape - nothing was ever done. I remember watching a documentary some time ago about a young woman who reported her ex for stalking, she was fined for wasting police time and then he ended up murdering her. The officer who fined her stood by his actions, even after her brutal death, and managed to keep his job despite going through a gross misconduct hearing.
So why; when I write on one side of an A4 piece of paper my emotions towards my ex neighbour. A woman who made my life a living hell; who drove me to quit my secure job (where I had worked for over ten years), sell my home (having to move hundreds of miles away from the city in which I was born and had lived in for 35 years - as nowhere nearer would accept pets in rented accommodation). A woman that literally drove me to the point of attempting to take my own life. Do I receive a call from the police, over two weeks after she would have received it, chastising me and a further two weeks later I have had to write a letter of apology to avoid it being taken to court?!!
The letter, whilst probably offensive, contained absolutely nothing threatening and was posted via first class Royal Mail - not even through her letterbox - on the day of completion when I was leaving and would never see her again. After I received the initial call I Googled what potential crime I had committed and whilst it did come up with results stating that even sending a text could be deemed a criminal offence. The officer I spoke to clearly stated I was not being accused of harassment.
I am not only baffled by the fact she contacted the police about A LETTER ffs, but that they took it so seriously when they cannot seem to do their jobs properly when it comes to ACTUAL crimes.
I have spent my life doing the right thing. I overthink everything and always think of potential consequences of my actions. And I have spent my life being walked over due to this, never standing up for myself due to the fear of confrontation. The one time I speak up for myself, albeit probably not in the most dignified manner, to give myself some semblance of catharsis - I get punished. My already fragile mental health is now lower than I thought possible and the constant anxiety of what more may come of this is literally making me ill. I know I shouldn’t have sent it and left quietly but I just wanted her to know everything I had been holding in for the months I had to endure her whilst being polite and friendly and even taking in her bloody parcels!!!!
My apologies for the rant, I have never posted before and will most likely not even check back for replies (which I know defeats the object of posting - I’m sorry) but I have been dealing with this for weeks and after yet another sleepless night because of it I just needed to get it out of my head. Thank you to anyone who has read it 