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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

Big problems with DP's family - help!

132 replies

TheKindnessOfStrangers · 06/11/2012 10:49

Please can somebody advise me.

Earlier this year we moved house. The reason ostensibly was because we wanted somewhere bigger, in the catchment area for a good school, but the real reason was because we wanted to get away from my BIL.

He is unemployed and was coming round to our house most days to eat dinner and verbally abuse us. He would pick fights by saying provocative, usually racist, things and then call us terrible names if we got irritated. My DP just wouldn?t or couldn?t deal with it (?He?s depressed. We have to be nice to him. I?m not going to turn my own brother away from my door? etc.). In the last year or so before we moved he started turning up in the day when DP was at work. Sometimes it was ok. For a while I even (naively) though we were friends. Sometimes he would harangue me to the point of tears. I remember once standing in the street with him, I don?t know where we?d been, as he ranted and raved at me whilst I sobbed and felt wretched. I don?t remember any of the details of what he said, just him screaming at me and calling me a cocksucker (nice, I know!).

One day I made the mistake of calling on him at his house. To cut a long story short, he raped me. I didn?t tell anybody in RL. My DP?s family have never liked me and I highly doubt they?d have believed me. I wasn?t even sure my DP would believe me (I didn?t fight and it would?ve been my word against his). It would have ripped the whole family apart. I?ve since spoken to Rape Crisis who said the case probably wouldn?t make it to court if I ever went to the police because I didn?t tell anybody at the time (they also told me it?s quite usual, and often safer, not to fight).

After that he started following me and hassling me when I was out and about. Sometimes he?d want to borrow money, sometimes he?d have a go at me, sometimes he?d proposition me. I told DP about it, and about the money and the verbal abuse, but not the propositioning. DP still did nothing, but that was when we started talking about moving house (I sent him numerous texts asking him not to approach me unless I was with DP).

After we moved I dug my heels in and flatly refused to have him in the house, and DP, whilst not fully understanding, respected this, but I had to go back to our old neighbourhood daily to take DS to nursery and quite often he would wait outside the nursery for me. One day he followed me half a mile down the road, trying to persuade me to let him come back with me to the house, or go for a walk with him in the park, or go back to his house. DP still did nothing. Desperately hoping for some support from somebody in the family, I mentioned it to my SIL and a few days later got an e-mail from my other BIL, her husband, saying that I was ?twisting reality? and basically that I?ve been mean and horrible for ?not accepting his olive branch? and for cutting him out of DS?s life (of course he was seeing DS almost daily before) (which I haven?t done, as DP still takes DS to see him when he can ? quite often he doesn?t pick up the phone when DP calls him to arrange a visit) and that they don?t want anything more to do with me. So I think it?s safe to say they wouldn?t have believed me regarding the rape. In the end we took DS out of that nursery and moved him to a local one.

Anyway, DS?s birthday is approaching and I?m being put under a lot of pressure from both my DP and my own parents to hold for him the sort of party that is traditional in DP?s family ? one where you invite all the family around to your house for sandwiches and cake ? and invite my BIL. DP thinks we need to ?build bridges? (I think my MIL is putting pressure on him), and my parents think I?m being stubborn because I simply don?t like the guy (and that I?m putting undue strain on my relationship with my DP) (I've not told them the truth either, because I?m sure they?d see it as my fault ? they always have whenever I?ve gotten into trouble). They are saying they won?t come if I don?t invite my BIL.

What do I do? Having him ?anywhere near me-- in my house is anathema to me, but how can I avoid it when even my own parents won?t back me up?

OP posts:
TheKindnessOfStrangers · 06/11/2012 10:52

Sorry, having him anywhere near me in my house is anathema to me, but how can I avoid it when even my own parents won?t back me up?

OP posts:
tutu100 · 06/11/2012 10:54

Would your parents believe you if you told them about the rape? I think you do need to tell people otherwise they won't understand why you really don't want your BIL around you.

Telling people won't make the situation much worse than it is already and I think it would make your DP definately take some kind of action. It might not be siding with you, but if he didn't believe you I presume it would be the end of the relationship (would you be able to stay with a DP who didn't believe you?). I really do you think you need to tell people the real reason you don't want anything to do with your BIL. TBH it sounds like he stalks you and I think you definately have grounds to go to the police. Has anyone other than DP (e.g. neighbours) witnessess his verbal abuse to you?

ClippedPhoenix · 06/11/2012 10:55

I don't understand why "your" parent are siding with your DP's family? That's a be screwed up, isn't it.

I'd start by telling my family exactly what that nasty twisted man has been up to then I'd tell DP that under no circumstances is he coming anywhere near me.

msrisotto · 06/11/2012 10:56

Jesus what a god awful situation for you. Does your DH and your parents know that he raped you? I don't honestly know how you have managed to keep this to yourself for the sake of others.

If you must throw a party and invite that toxic bastard, can you throw it in a local village hall or pub/restaurant side room or something?

TheKindnessOfStrangers · 06/11/2012 11:00

Now that I am completely avoiding our old neighbourhood he has stopped following me. My parents would think what happened was my fault, of that I'm completely sure - they'd say that I shouldn't have gone to his house or that I must have given him the wrong signals or something.

OP posts:
TheKindnessOfStrangers · 06/11/2012 11:03

I suggested going out for a meal, DP isn't having it. Nobody knows what happened, except the woman I spoke to at Rape Crisis.

OP posts:
msrisotto · 06/11/2012 11:04

Can you tell your DP?

tutu100 · 06/11/2012 11:05

It wasn't your fault. I'm sure you didn't have a clue that he was capable of that. I think though that until you tell people what happened no one will understand why you feel the way you do. They probably think it's something silly and why can't you just forget about it.

I would like to think that you are wrong about how your parents would react, but you know them so they wouldn't be sympathetic. What about your DP? Do you think he would believe you?

I don't think you can carry on being "normal" in this family anymore. Things need to come to a head to try and make some kind of resolution. It's going to be hard, but then any other option would be as well, just in a different way.

dequoisagitil · 06/11/2012 11:05

Oh my god Shock. I am so sorry.

You should stick to your guns, for sure. No way should you have to ever see this guy ever again Sad. I wouldn't want him anywhere near me or my family, in your place.

I can see how difficult it must be to feel your family are blaming you for an estrangement.

I think your choices are to tell the whole story to your dp and go to the police. Or to tell the rapist BIL directy that if he tries to come etc, you will tell everyone - and that he should make excuses why he can't visit and to keep away from now on, or you will go to the police.
Or stand firm and keep refusing to have anything to do with him, no matter what anyone says.

Please keep yourself safe. Don't get railroaded into having to share air with him. If he harasses you in any way, start reporting him to the police. I know it would cause trouble in the family, but your safety is more important than the fallout.

I'm so sorry you're going through this.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 06/11/2012 11:08

The only person you're protecting by keeping the rape secret is your rapist, unfortunately. You need to report him to the police immediately. Even if it is some time ago and even if it won't end up in court, they should be aware that there is a rapist at large. You also need to tell your family, your partner and anyone else who will listen. No-one has had the opportunity to have an opinion if they don't know the truth.... how can you know they'd be automatically on the side of a rapist?

I'd also suggest talking to your GP and seeing if you can get some kind of counselling. Suppressing this information and keeping his secret for him.. must be crushing your self-esteem and confidence

dequoisagitil · 06/11/2012 11:09

And keep talking to Rape Crisis.

waltermittymissus · 06/11/2012 11:09

Hang on. Does DP know he raped you? Does he know about the stalking and harassment?

As for this 'olive branch' why do the family think you fell out?

Sweetheart it sounds like there is something very wrong with this family. Your wanker "d"p included.

YellowTulips · 06/11/2012 11:11

I don't feel able to offer you any advice here about such a sensitive subject but I did want to extend my sympathy and bump your thread a bit until other (more experienced) posters arrive.

This sounds like a truly awful situation and my heart goes out to you. The one truth I feel able to say is that this 100% wasn't your fault and I really hope others can help facilitate you getting the support I think you need.

msrisotto · 06/11/2012 11:11

To be honest, I think you would be better off long term, out of these peoples lives completely. I mean if you can't tell your DP, then i'm not sure how 'D' he really is.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 06/11/2012 11:13

Exactly.... why subject yourself to a partner and a family that would rather close ranks than be on your side? You have to tell them what happened and, if they throw you back to this wolf and refuse to believe you, then get yourself away from them. They sound horrible.

Gintonic · 06/11/2012 11:13

How awful, feel so sorry for you. Are you sure your parents would be so unsympathetic? Perhaps they would be more understanding and helpful than you think? Or do you have a good friend you could speak to? That might help you feel more able to tell your DP and you can face this terrible situation together.

Perhaps rape crisis an give some advice on how to tell your DP or other people in RL?

Feel so bad for you, you should not be suffering this on your own.

TheKindnessOfStrangers · 06/11/2012 11:15

The family think we fell out because he was constantly at our house eating our food, taking borrowing our money and making a nuisance of himself.

OP posts:
Ungratefulchild · 06/11/2012 11:15

You poor thing. What an utterly awful thing to have happenened to you.

Could you tell your DP about the rape? It will be a shock but will certainly help him to understand your position. Keep talking to rape crisis.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 06/11/2012 11:17

Report him to the police. The police don't care that he's depressed or whatever. They have no interest in keeping criminals on the streets. For all you know, he may have attacked other women. He may already be in their sights and you could add enough to the body of evidence against him to prosecute. One victim solo may not have a big enough voice to convict but, if there are others who have fallen foul of this evil man, your voices together might do it.

msrisotto · 06/11/2012 11:17

Can you tell your partner that he raped then stalked you? Could you write it in a letter or print off your OP?

SissySpacekAteMyHamster · 06/11/2012 11:23

Even without the rape, his behaviour towards you and your DP is absolutely unacceptable.

I wouldn't want my son to have any contact with a rapist.

You have to tell your partner. You have to, otherwise his brother will always be in your life.

Would you want to be with a partner who doesn't believe you or is willing to side with his brother?

Your situation is an absolutely horrible one to be in, and I really do feel for you.

TheKindnessOfStrangers · 06/11/2012 11:24

It's going to sound really dumb, and I know it's dumb, I've talked it all through with Rape Crisis, but I can't help feeling ashamed about what happened. I'm not married but I'm in a long-term relationship and I developed a inappropriate friendship with a man other than my DP, spending long periods of time alone with him, sometimes having quite intimate conversations with him, and I know that doesn't excuse what he did but I just think nobody's going to be sympathetic to that.

OP posts:
Badvoc · 06/11/2012 11:24

You need to tell your partner.
And you need to stop letting this rapist have access to your child.
And go to the police.

msrisotto · 06/11/2012 11:25

It's not your fault.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 06/11/2012 11:27

"Sometimes he would harangue me to the point of tears. I remember once standing in the street with him, I don?t know where we?d been, as he ranted and raved at me whilst I sobbed and felt wretched. I don?t remember any of the details of what he said, just him screaming at me and calling me a cocksucker (nice, I know!)."

Inappropriate friendship? This is how you described his visits earlier. If that's what you call a friendship... what would you call an enemy? He was never your friend, he's always been abusive and what happened was not your fault.