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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

Very, very strange behaviour from old 'friend' (sorry - it's long!)

32 replies

EmmalinaC · 04/01/2013 10:45

I'm not sure whether this should be in relationships, mental health or AIBU so I thought I'd try here first as I know there are some very wise posters around!

We have recently had a friend to stay for a couple of days with his two DCs who are similar ages to our own. He used to be our neighbour and we were very close to him and his (now Ex) wife for a while. DH is godfather to their youngest DC.

18 months ago they moved overseas - back to the city she was originally from - where there was more work available and so they might find greater financial security. Their relationship was always volatile, he was emotionally abusive and six months ago they separated. He has stayed overseas so that they can share custody of the children. She says hs is 'a good father'.

Last week he brought the DCs to the UK for new year so they could visit his parents and friends and asked if he could stay with us for a couple of days. It didn't seem an unreasonable request...

From the minute they arrived - he was four hours later than expected and had clearly been drinking - his behaviour was odd, very rude, bordering on frightening. He is clearly bitter and angry about the separation but doesn't seem to see it as his responsibility in any way - this doesn't surprise me but it does seem to enable him behave in any way he pleases.

He declined the meal I had cooked and said he wanted a curry - which we ordered and he then proceeded to get hammered. When we called it a night he said would follow us up in a few minutes. In fact he stayed up until 5am, helped himself to most of DH's whisky and ginger wine, decided to reheat some curry, which he spilled all over the kitchen. He also drew some very odd pictures which he left all over the kitchen for DH to find in the morning - but I don't know about these until after they had left...

The following morning he, of course, didn't get up until noon while we looked after his DCs. DH had taken a day off work so we could do something nice with the children but our guest was insistent that he needed a steak and chips for lunch to cure his hangover. We naively failed to realise this was in fact a ruse to get to a pub where he drank several pints and used all sorts of tricks to prolong the visit (such as 'forgetting' to order the DCs desserts so waited 45 minutes during which time he was able to sneak in a couple of extra drinks).

He was rude and obnoxious, giving advice on our parenting methods, telling us to 'chill out' etc. DH eventually had enough and told him to zip it and he was surprisingly apologetic and contrite. There is so much more horrid and wierd behaviour that I won't bother writing it all down. I'm sure you get the picture.

I had concluded that he was a sad and bitter alcoholic and that next time he asked us to put him up we would simply make excuses but what I have since discovered has left me feeling chilled.

The night he stayed up all night drinking our booze he did a series of sketches. They said things like 'I want to kill you all', 'Kill X' (X being DH's initial), and included a picture of someone sleeping in their bed, with 'Perfect Death' written underneath. He has always made me feel uneasy but this has freaked me out.

Aside from never allowing him any where near my family again, I feel like I need to do something to protect family. Clearly I need to tell his exW what his behaviour has been like. I just don't really know what to do. They live overseas so I can't report him to the police, can I?

Any advice welcome. Thanks for reading if you got this far Smile

OP posts:
M25Meltdown · 04/01/2013 10:49

Ooh err

Doinmummy · 04/01/2013 10:51

Wow, how scary. I would def tell the ex, I'd be very worried about the children. He's obviously in no state to look after them. When does he go back? I'd be inclined to show pics to the police, just in case.

lilacbaubles · 04/01/2013 10:52

I agree that you need to tell his exW. Do the children have grandparents here too?

pictish · 04/01/2013 10:55

Eeeekk!!

Um...sp[eak to the ex wife. Not because it's her responsibility to help him, but because of the kids.

Take it from there.

Very delicate situation. x

Kione · 04/01/2013 10:55

Deffinitelly tell his ExW and she will have to do whatever needs done to protect her children. From your side stop all contact with him and if he bothers you or you are scared kept the drawings and call the police.

dequoisagitil · 04/01/2013 10:55

Have you still got the pictures?

EmmalinaC · 04/01/2013 10:56

They've gone back this morning. I didn't want to tell his ex until the children are safely back in her care. There are GPs in the UK and also overseas. Should they be told too? I am worried about inflaming what is already a clearly fucked-up situation. His poor DCs. Their behaviour was also slightly strange (which isn't surprising!) and they are such lovely children.

OP posts:
Doinmummy · 04/01/2013 10:56

I was wondering if in fact someone ( grandparents maybe) should take the children from him now. He sounds very unstable. To think that he has to negotiate getting them home safely is a worry.

tzella · 04/01/2013 10:56

How peculiar. I'd tell his exw. This may be another in a long line of things she is justifiably furious about. Do be prepared to get shot for being the messenger though - I only mention this for balance. I can't imagine she'll be terribly surprised.
You and you DH sound like you handled it as well as you possibly could Smile

happygolurky · 04/01/2013 10:57

Bloody nora! I would call his ex and say you were worried about his behaviour. Did your DH challenge him about the drawings the next day?

ILoveSaladReallyIDo · 04/01/2013 10:58

I would take them to the police, police forces in different countries do communicate

EmmalinaC · 04/01/2013 10:58

Still got pictures. We thought we should save them and record the date Sad

I am slightly pissed off that DH didn't show me until after they had left - I would have asked him to leave there and then - but DH feels huge responsibility for his godchild.

OP posts:
Doinmummy · 04/01/2013 10:58

Oh ok they've gone back already. I'd be telling his family tbh , I don't see how it can make things worse. He quite clearly needs help.

dequoisagitil · 04/01/2013 11:03

Tbh, I think the ex-wife needs to know. I think you should put the pictures in her hands or the police's.

This is an abusive man, and those pictures indicate there is something very nasty going on in his head - and I think he should be taken seriously. People get killed by their abusive exes. I think it's better to be wrong about him being a potential threat than to be wrong after something awful happens.

Catchingmockingbirds · 04/01/2013 11:06

Tell his wife and let her chose to tell GP, offer to send her the pictures.

tzella · 04/01/2013 11:06

Yes, don't just tell his ex; warn her Sad

ChristmasNamechangeBridezilla · 04/01/2013 11:07

My father once drew similar pictures of his now wife which I found on our breakfast bar as a teenager.

Very, very creepy I agree. His head is obviously not in a good place and I too think you have to let the ex wife know.

LookBehindYou · 04/01/2013 11:08

Oh gosh, very very strange and frightening. Has your DH kept the pictures? I would write down while it's fresh in your mind everything that happened during the visit. This will all probably really help the mother's case. It's very worrying to think what action he might take though.

BerylStreep · 04/01/2013 11:21

I would report it to the police. They will then be able to communicate with SS, GP etc.

Why the F didn't your DH show them to you before? Confused

BerylStreep · 04/01/2013 11:23

What country do they live in? Is it one where this is likely to be taken seriously? Does he need a visa to stay there?

Having said to report it to the police, I would be asking them to keep your name out of it. You don't want to become the target of his ire, especially if he returns to this country, however the police need to know - he sounds highly unstable and dangerous.

EmmalinaC · 04/01/2013 11:27

Thanks for your posts everyone. I know it sounds really pathetic but I am frightened of him - I that if we show pictures to his ex, GPs or whoever that he will blame us for ruining his life. He is exactly the sort of person who has never taken any responsibility for anything that has happened in his life.

Beryl I know. He was stunned. He really didn't know what to do.

OP posts:
piprabbit · 04/01/2013 11:31

TBH - you've already said you never want to see him again and he lives overseas. Does it really matter if he blames you?
Personally, I could live with being unfairly blamed for ruining someone life. I'm not sure I could live if something happened which I might (just might) have been able to prevent.
You know you need to tell someone and show them the pictures.

TheFallenNinja · 04/01/2013 11:32

You should act, and act now. Start with Police, NSPCC and childline. His own self destruction should not be transferred to his children.

Passing this on to the ex is counterproductive, she will simply use it against him making what sounds like a fairly odd state of mind even less stable.

EmmalinaC · 04/01/2013 11:32

When you put it like that, Pip...

OP posts:
dequoisagitil · 04/01/2013 11:34

I don't blame you at all for being frightened of him.

Perhaps you could talk to the local police and put it into their hands. It's better to have him on their radar for everyone's sake and they would handle anything, if there's anything to do, quietly.

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