Split with my abusive controlling ex last June after he made an attempt at isolating myself and are now 17month old DD from my family. We live in a town in which I had no support network as I only moved there at 36 weeks pregnant. He has consistently neglected dd, dropped her into coffee, left her to slide down the side of a sofa at 6 weeks, dresses her in JUST a short sleeved bodysuit on a cold November night (to go outside in the car), leaves her unattended in a bath at 9 months, calls her a p*ki, a little shit, says he’ll slap her up the list goes on.
I’ve never allowed him to have contact with her without someone else being present, for a good 6 months it was myself but after constant harassment to get back together, abuse, groping and the likes I decided I couldn’t be around him. Instead his parents started being present (5 occasions) which would have been fine but on each occasion dd was coming back hungry, freezing cold, distress and withdrawn. The behavioural issues I thought were because she missed me but they would last for 3 days at least, just either subdued or aggressive.. biting or hitting although not towards myself but her aunties and my mum. Because I had already mentioned her wellbeing to my ex before I told him for now I’d like contact to be within a contact centre until a child arrangements order is done through court, this I have applied for myself.
My issue is along with witnesses I had messages from my ex confirming he had done all of the above and more. But my phone containing all this evidence has had a fault and while the data recovery company I have sought out can retrieve the photos I have they cannot retrieve the WhatsApp messages which is where he has confessed to it all. So now I have this dilemma do I still bring up these allegations in court and risk them say it isn’t true and try and go in favour of whatever my ex says or do I still raise these concerns with just the witness statements plus photos which are just of the condition of DD? My sisters are two witnesses who are both police officers and while they think his emails, which I still have, to them are evidence enough to show how controlling he is I still worry. All I want to do is protect my daughter and while yes I would like her to have contact with her dad not if that puts her safety and well being at risk.