Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Had police around again!

61 replies

seaofyou · 08/08/2012 01:12

Ok it has been a long time since they came round last...but was terrified earlier!

Background ex attacked my house on many occassions police could not do anything as not caught in act even though spotted in next street by witnesses and he lives abroad!

Sunday night just after 10pm...about to get up to go to bed and a green circle light like a small torch/Ben10 projector green light moving around on inside of my living room curtains. I ran upstairs to check CCTV and 3 young blokes ? Early twenties were crossing road towards my house at time of this mysterious green light! I thought naw kids messing around!

Tonight same time same 3 lads walking past house and as in view of CCTV they start to throw a ? Small ball just missing my car. I look to end of street and man like my ex standing their waiting for these boys and turns corner with them! Again gives it benefit of doubt...lots of gas lighting from ex so trying not to be paranoid!

Few minutes later notice my outside sensor light is on? I rewind CCTV few minutes and that same man is walking past my house really really slowly staring at CCTV?

Terrified called police..they have been good and told me to call them if those boys come back again.

It brings the sheer terror back again! Sitting at window with all lights off praying he does not return with mobile in hand and 999 ready!
If B you read this thank you for being on end of phone and waiting till early hours for me to finish with police.

Hope the night goes fast and I just collapse with exhaustion!

OP posts:
wishiwasonholiday · 08/08/2012 03:25

Maybe they wanted you to open the curtains so were flashing the light to make you look?

Hope you get some sleep soon.

seaofyou · 08/08/2012 03:29

Yes maybe wishiwas. The light was high up near the top of window. My living room light and TV was on so if I never looked up I would have actually missed it! I sat their stunned blinked a few times thinking is it my eyes? But no, was this then another gaslighting attempt if not a break in?

OP posts:
izzyizin · 08/08/2012 03:32

It will need considerable torch power to melt a uPVC window frame in sufficient strategic points to enable a double glazed glass panel to be pushed in, and if anyone was intent on using a torch to melt your window they'd be applying itdirectly to the frame and you wouldn't be seeing lights moving around on you curtains

Your CCTV system doesn't need any enhancement as existing images can be enhanced at a later date.

If you were to replace your uPVC frames with wood a blowtorch could burn through the frame.

If you replaced uPVC with steel, it wouldn't be difficult to shatter the glass to gain access.

The stark fact is that we all have to live with is that if anyone is sufficiently determined to break into a property they will be able to, unless maybe you're living in a fortress with a moat and a drawbridge in which case laying siege to the property will eventually starve you out.

seaofyou · 08/08/2012 03:40

Izzy you just described my current dream home Grin

I am going to try and get head down as I have to be up in 3 hrs to take ds for swimming lesson.

I am praying this is something innocent Izzy! What do you think?

OP posts:
izzyizin · 08/08/2012 03:55

I think you should get some sleep and take another look at those cctv images in the clear light of day.

You know what's at stake here and before you make any more allegations against him to the police, you need to be absolutely certain that it is him caught on camera, as it were.

Just thinking it may be him isn't going to make it him, and I don't see what he's got to gain from prancing around outside your home in the early hours.

If I wanted to know what type of cctv system you've got, whether it's real or a dummy, what angle the camera is pointing at, etc, I wouldn't choose the middle of the night to check it out.

I know he's not the brightest light in the firmament but even so, if he was so minded, I would have thought he'd choose a more subtle way of getting to you than incriminating himself gurning at your cctv camera.

mathanxiety · 08/08/2012 04:00

I think you are entitled to call the police any time you see anything that raises your hackles. You don't have to be sure who it is who is out there behaving suspiciously. It is the job of the police to figure out what is going on and who is behind it, not yours.

Have you considered adding a really bright motion detector light that would be set off by anyone coming within, say, 2 feet of your house? That way the CCTV would be able to pick up more too.

mathanxiety · 08/08/2012 04:22

What he has to gain from harassing you is the satisfaction of carrying on a vendetta and pretending in his own head that he is untouchable by the law.

No amount of intimidation will bring the rush he really craves. There will always be the need to go one step further. The vendetta can only bring satisfaction when you are completely crushed. That is why this sort of man is extremely dangerous.

The idea that he is above the law, that he makes up the rules, is one that a lot of abusers hold dear. It takes quite a lot of convincing for many of them to grudgingly accept that this is not in fact the case. Many are very bold in their defiance.

There is nothing rational about this. Subjecting it to rational questions will not bring you the answers you need. Best bet is to never rule anything out on the grounds that it would be stupid of him, or irrational, or likely to backfire. You are not dealing with a rational person here, or someone subtle. He is making gestures that he wants you to notice in order to freak you out.

garlicnuts · 08/08/2012 04:47

I'm with Math on this. The purpose of 'prancing about' isn't anything to do with making reasoned steps towards physical harm, imo, but more in the way of poking & prodding. He may well have absurd ideas about what he can achieve with a torch and a power ball (!) but I think he has it in his mind that he can terrorise you just by lurking around your street. Unfortunately he did manage to terrorise you while he held real power over you, so his silly games have a devastating effect.

This is what I hate about bullies: the way they create fear and then use it to taunt you, all for their own sick-minded ego inflation. If someone was messing around my windows with a torch I'd open the door and ask them what the bloody hell they were looking for, but that would be no fun for them. If your horrible ex - who has seriously threatened your safety in the past - does it at your windows, it freaks you out and he knows it. It makes him feel like The Dark Force or something, I suppose, the twat.

Anyway, it's a good idea to shine a bright light on a "Dark Force" and I am all in favour of security lights. I thought you had them, sea, but get some if not. They're about £8 on ebay. I've got some. They're battery operated (no wiring to do) and you can put them high up, pointing downwards. You get a narrow angle this way - less likely to wake up neighbours and little danger of anybody removing the batteries! As Math says, a good light should improve your camera pictures would it not?

Right, I'm off to bed far too late. Hope you've already had some rest before you read this, sweetheart :)

Lueji · 08/08/2012 07:50

I hope you managed to sleep and are alright this morning.

I agree with Izzy, Math and Garlic.

Just keep calling the police and record as much as you can.
Make sure you take steps to be as safe as possible firewise.

Could you afford a burglars alarm? In case they enter? Which is not easy without making a lot of noise.

But at the same time try to relax. :)
There's only so much one can do and we must try to be happy.

EleanorHandbasket · 08/08/2012 07:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

seaofyou · 08/08/2012 08:05

Well things quite here thankfully...need to check CCTV as soon as I am back.

Math yeh police said I should have called them Sunday too. Even if I see them again just to call! Thought I could only call with attack or looking like about to attack etc...so that has reassured me.

Yes I have prs light sensor on one side but normal light by front door can't be left on as effects CCTV picture. But it was the light on I noticed last night on prs light that made me rewind it.

Oh GB do you have a link to the wireless ones? That would be up my street as no wiring so I can have one round side of house.

Lueji I have burglar alarm I could put this on at night yes. Never thought of that...except front door they broke that one when fitting new front door saying they are not responsible to fix it!

No Elanor not that far away if I said Europe short ferry would that give you idea!

OP posts:
ImperialBlether · 08/08/2012 08:09

Don't be flippant, Eleanor. The OP is clearly terrified of this man.

ImperialBlether · 08/08/2012 08:11

OP, have you seen these door wedges? When the door is opened, an alarm goes off. They might help you feel safer.

OhWesternWind · 08/08/2012 09:48

Hi sea! Please look seriously at moving. Whatever it takes, do it. You know my story and I'll say again here that moving ( well going into hiding tbh) has been a great move for us as we couldn't have coped with ex's escalating harassment long term. I lost money by doing this and my life was turned upside down for months but we are on the other side of it now and the effect on the children is wonderful.

If you want to talk through moving options with me please pm me.

Please think about this and do it! If you rent out your house that will enable you to rent in a different area as a starting point and take it from there.

Good luck.

seaofyou · 08/08/2012 14:33

I have checked outside and no burn marks on window frame phewie! I asked 2 mums about what the light could be ( never said about ex too embarrassed in RL to tell people). They said those lazer lights do that but they are much thinner not about 2 inches in diameter.

Spent best part of 4 hrs trying to find the in total 40 seconds and copy onto the USB as forgot as Nov last time.

I have some good news the 3 lads on Sunday (the green moving light through my curtains) were not the same as last night so not related double phewie! However they later were running out of street which I have saved just incase someone returns from hols and house broken into!

Last night two lads and a female (hair up wearing jeans and top). The man who looks like ex did walk up with them and then walked back down on own as stripe jacket gave it away. However face not clear on computer gets more distorted the larger the screen and when you freeze it can be a undescriptive face...so only height which I can tell by my car...my car is taller than me and it doesn't go to the man's shoulders...same dark hair and frame/size. Otherwise non identifiable! It was a small ball they were throwing to each other. The man was taking baby steps ...one stride to next foot then move foot again...took 12 seconds to walk past small section of path that CCTV picks up and was staring at CCTV.

I have emailed courts just incase they have contacted ex...but I doubt it! As this is main trigger, but hold my breath on getting response.

Imperial thank you so much for that site! I am going to get this the door wedge to low for front door. But ex might touch handle...shame it doesn't electrocute the git!

OWW thank you I promise I will as I have never rented before so will need advice, however it all relies on my job which I still have not had answer about working child friendly hours.

I am trapped financially, socially, physically ( have no other place to go...policeman must have thought sad cow when I said I had no friends or family to go to:() and the psychological barrier I am working on as been the hardest!

But when an evil twunt goes to work on gas lighting, making you feel you are going nuts (hence reluctance to call police), PTSD of 'OMG he is going to kill us mode!' can't run as no where to go...have to face what might happen which that is when I lose all rational thoughts and freak out as I did on phone to 999 operator last night:(

Oh I fucking hate that man I really really wish he was dead because that is the only time I will really get any peace...I hope someone reading relates to this and just don't think I am nasty, but I have had it! I am back to square one wi th 2 incidents not connected to each other and don't know if related to ex! Which I can't even say for the other 14 attacks...as no proof ahhh!

OP posts:
garlicnuts · 08/08/2012 14:51

You might like:

Contact door & window alarms (4) - they go off when a hinged door/window is opened.

PIR alarm - for your front door.

PIR spotlight - Haven't tried this; reviews say it's good.

Osram PIR light - Had this as a porch light & loved it.

Yale wirefree alarm kit - The business! £200+ and takes time to install correctly.

Obv, I don't know what your finances are like but, if limited, I'd suggest spending the least you need, to feel a little more protected, and looking harder at ways to move out. In making your home into a little fortress while knowing it's under attack, you essentially put yourself in a siege situation and of course it's stressful. I do understand perfectly that this can make you feel it's unsafe to move (or even impossible) but, in fact, getting 'lost' is most likely to set you free. I hope some of the other posters with relevant experience can help talk you through it.

So good to know the police are supporting you :) Take it easy. x

garlicnuts · 08/08/2012 14:51

xposted, will catch up

izzyizin · 08/08/2012 15:06

But, honey, from what you've told me there haven't been 14 attacks on your home and your ex has never physically attacked you, although I seem to recall you said you whacked him on his arm once and he didn't retaliate but he did go crying to his mummy Grin

I've got cctv at home; on the rare occasions that I check to see what's been going on outside, I often come across people walking past staring at the camera. It seems to be a magnet for some numpties.

Are you working now, sea? If so, well done you - it'll do you good to have another focus after all the hard work you've done with ds and fighting to get him into the best possible school.

Lueji · 08/08/2012 15:08

I once got totally freaked out because I thought ex had just pulled out of a car behind me from just around the corner from my street and then followed me to the flats and parked a few spots below.

The driver must have thought I was crazy, as I left again, then came back in the other direction (avenue with central separation) to take a proper look.

It turned out not to be him, of course, but when your mind is set that way, you can see them everywhere.

Chances are these people were just burglars checking out empty houses on your street.

izzyizin · 08/08/2012 15:47

'Chances are these people were just burglars checking out empty houses on your street'

Gosh, that's mighty reassuring Lueji Grin At this rate sea will never leave her house again Smile

But I know what you mean. If we're in the wrong mindset or are feeling vulnerable and fear overtakes us, anyone and anything can be suspicious or seem to be out to harm us.

You've posted more than once on the subject of your ex having some kind of supernatural power to harm you, sea. My concern is that if you were to move you'd take that fear with you.

As you'd also live in fear that he'd found your new address by either natural or other means it seems to me you'd still be looking over your shoulder, as it were, and you'd still experience nights like last night.

Since you had cctv installed what, 2 years ago?, there have been no further 'attacks' on your home which would seem to indicate that either the police were right in concluding that bored youths were responsible or your ex isn't willing to risk getting caught bang to rights on camera.

If the latter were the case, no doubt he would have managed to accost you outside of camera range and the fact that he hasn't would seem to demonstrate that he's not as powerful or as determined to cause you harm as you seem to believe.

seaofyou · 08/08/2012 15:54

Izzy I wish I had taken the blows not my 3 yr old non verbal terrified ds who could not tell me on return from visits:(
I was lucky the night before he left as you know he went into rage as I poured last of 3rd bottle of wine he was on that night as worried re driving next morning down sink and he did threaten to throw me down the stairs..I was lucky he smashed his knuckle instead against wall as I was 5 months pregnant, still the emotional distress wasn't good either...his eyes very bright blue turned black and he was somewhere else very dark I had not seen before...thankfully as you know he locked himself in room and started chucking things around leaving me safe! Yes 15 reports and some attempted attacks as spotted by tutors on 3 occassions and me once...this doesn't even include driving past hurling abuse etc never bothered contacting police for those so yes only 9 actual damaged property. Still waiting to hear about work but got on my MSc so looking forward to that anyway!

Thanks GB but I got all them...well wired not wireless house alarm, window wired too with child locks to get through also...even harder than alarm! Pir spot light was damaged with big thumb or finger indent, so only comes on for few seconds but comes on if some one on other side of street as it is broke the settings! Have porch light too!

Lueji I had house in darkness last night and when I went to turn light on all lights out...fuse had gone...it didn't half freak me out for few seconds! Last yr a van parked around corner i was driving to overtake the van and saw quick glimpse...same hair/skin colour and it took off slowly past my street as I parked up...that was it..I thought it was ex! I was unsettled for 2 hrs. Every time I leave my street I look to see if certain car I think ex might be driving is parked around corner ESP Fri-Mon...when ex more likely to be over!

Well if it was him last night he is getting closer and more daring again which is worrying. I do pray it was not him. After the music title 3 weeks ago on ds birthday (Son of Satan definition) I am worried the 'dark force' has gone totally loopy and therfore dangerous!

It always happens when my neighbour opposite is away too or out etc! So feel even more alone in street as no good phoning them.

OP posts:
seaofyou · 08/08/2012 16:16

Izzy ha I feel safer thinking it is a burglar as I have nothing here of value for them to take. More worried ex would take ds my most valuable person on this earth to me! I don't get suddenly terrified by the thought of a burglar only my experience of ex...I guess that would change if I had a burglar here and hope that is not the answer too. I have lived here 12 yrs and was never frightend, if anything to careless leaving doors unlocked going to bed etc per ds days!
I guess growing up with Irish decent ESP superstitions etc the Banshee etc LOL was taught at early age never cross an Irish gypsy etc and therefore yes I do have some beliefs that certain religions can 'do harm to others' again one of the the twunts titles to frighten me in early days! When I first found out ex was High pist Priest of a Pagan coven...the WiccaMan with Nicholas Cage I think was on that night! Oh I was terrified! Then my mum banging on about not going out on May Eve! No wonder I am a wreckGrin
Izzy funny you said that WA counsellor said same thing about moving and therefore not worth moving!? So that has left me confused a little.

Just over yr ago CCTV installed but a few visits! Well at least 2 I know was him..the others are theory's or PTSD over reaction like Lueji describes!

Another night in the House of Horror eek!!!

OP posts:
izzyizin · 08/08/2012 17:13

High Priest, my arse. High and pissed more like. When he's not imbibing Guinness, he's a doing a few lines of coke and making out he's the next Aleister Crowley who, for the record, was not a particularly proficient warlock thanks to his fondness for plant by products.

I won't reveal the name of the website you found him on, but let's just say any coven he belongs to rarely leaves the the pub and the only spirits he's capable of conjuring up are those that are to be found behind the bar.

He live in a not too distant country which is a ferry ride from the UK. Once or twice a year he visits his dps and you happen to live along the same motorway he uses when he goes to see them.

It's no sweat for him to turn off said motorway, drive past your house, and effectively go 'yah boo sucks to you' before he continues his journey to and from the ferry.

The man is pathetic. He's ineffectual in every way. He hasn't got the balls he was born with.

Jeez, when I think of the fighting you've done for your ds I'd put money on you seeing off 10 of him if he were to dare to try and gain entry to your home without your consent.

I made a suggestion to you a year ago; you live within commutable distance of a centre of excellence for autism and it occurred to me that you should consider renting your spare room to a student or someone who is taking up a short-term placement at that establishment at a reduced rate in return for a few hours babysitting a week.

This would give you the security of knowing that another adult is in the house at night and would also give you the opportunity to go out for a couple of hours one or more evenings a week after ds has gone to bed.

Please consider this possibility, honey. Along with extra income, it could provide the stimulus you need to take your mind off the twat and focus on other matters.

FWIW, in the past 2 years or so, my pristine wheelie bin was nicked, my recycling box that had happily lived in a spot under the hedge for umpteen years went the same way, one of my car windows was smashed and the tax disc liberated, I found a dead rat on my doorstep - no visible cause of death but I wasn't about to perform a postmortem on the deceased - and a couple of bricks I'd placed under a large tub to aid drainage mysteriously disappeared causing the large plant it contained to almost commit hara-kiri due to being severed from its dedicated trellis fixed to the wall of the house.

Add on assorted oddbods giving every appearance of casing my house while unashamedly grinning at my cctv camera and I could be paranoid about one or more of my exes Grin but the fact is it's part of urban living these days.

And don't get me started on the weird and wonderful happenings that occur inside my haunted house Smile

Lueji · 08/08/2012 17:29

Izzy, :) That's right.

We just cannot let fear rule our lives.

garlicnuts · 08/08/2012 17:34

you live within commutable distance of a centre of excellence for autism and it occurred to me that you should consider renting your spare room to a student or someone who is taking up a short-term placement at that establishment at a reduced rate in return for a few hours babysitting a week.

That does sound like a good idea, for all Izzy's reasons :)

Izzy, those damn brick-nickers! What's wrong with people today, why can't they go and steal some loose bricks of their own? Tsk.

Swipe left for the next trending thread