Am I going to far?

[turbochildren]

I've posted before, but need to air my thoughts and if anyone has any feedback I'll be very grateful.
my P was arrested 2 months ago because he tried to strangle me whilst I was carrying our young child in the stairs. When the police arrived and took a statment everything spilled out of me regarding abuse happening over a long time, sexual abuse also. He was charged and wants to go to crown court. After I went to give supporting evidence last week, the police have come back to me and said what I've told them and given evidence for warrants two more very serious charges.
I don't know what to do. He is the father of my children and if found guilty will be sent to prison and have great difficulty ever finding a job again. I never wanted this for him, I never wanted this ending, though I did want us to separate as it all took it's toll on the children also.
His family think I'm after vengeance, but last time I did apologise to them for him abusing me and attacking me and me subsequently running away with our children for 2 weeks. It was very hard for them and him that I told other people what had happened!
Now I wonder is it just me enjoying playing the victim? I want him to understand once and for all that he cannot behave like this to me. But, I feel so lost in all this, and trying to care for the children who miss their dad and just wants us to be happy family again.
I have friends but my family all live abroad.
There's things I don't want to tell my friends about, because it's very personal.
I don't know if I'm doing the right thing in allowing the CPS to charge him.

sorry, just read the new posts. Yes, I will go to GP to see about psychologist.
Isetan, thank you for that. I have the support from the police, and that makes a huge difference. I wont back down. the biggest thing is what you said, I have to stand up to him to show he can't mess about with me anymore. otherwise he'll just carry on and it will all be turned around. He has said before that I make him want to strangle me. I just didn't think that he'd do it whilst endangering his daughter. I guess I closed my mind to what it would mean for the children if he actually did strangle me.

I don't have any direct experiance and wiser and more experienced voices are here.

But I want to say that you've been through a lot but have been making good decisions about the safety of yourself and your children. It sounds to me like you are taking your time thinking things through from all sides, which is good in one way. But do not let the doubts get on top of you, you are doing the right thing. You know that from the reactions of the police and CPS. They know his actions are so far beyond normal that they are illegal and criminal.

You are amazingly strong to have come through this and still be compassionate about him and his family (your OP). Do not let his family manipulate your good nature (as shown by you apologising previously). Your compassion will enable you to help your children through whatever has happened and whatever will happen to their father after all of this.

Please use all the support you can. GPs will be a good starting place for some services you might get benefit from, so would asking the police for links to their support and also if there is someone at you sons' school you could discuss them having extra support with. Do you have pastoral services at Uni you would access?

Best wishes to you in all your endeavours.

It made me so determined that wasn't going to be my life. He had me believing no body would want me, that I wouldn't cope, that I needed to be sectioned.

The flip side is I actually realised he was the deranged one. If I hadn't left then I wouldn't have what I do now. I now successfully run 2 companies and have 5 beautiful very well balanced children and a loving husband.

There is so much out there for you too! Live your life your way do not be afraid! In a few years you'll be telling others they can do it to!

Thank you for boosting post sadsong. Yes, I actually begged him to have me sectioned as I thought I must be completely loopy and unfit to look after my children.
Surprisingly we are doing ok without him. It's early days, but the boys are calming down and having a good time.
Today xmil + husband came to see the children. All smiles and wanted to kiss me hello etc. I actually pushed her away. Been there, done that and may soon print the t-shirt. I'm not going to be difficult regarding the children, however it will be on my terms.
Had an email about stuff he wanted. He couldn't have those things, but i had other things for him, but suddenly she did not want to be the go-between. ok.

It's already been said, but if someone tries to strangle you it doesn't matter who they are, it needs to be reported to the police.

Also bear in mind that if it ever gets to the point where you leave him, and you are worried about access because of his violence, if he hasn't been charged with any dv crime, it may not be taken seriously. You never know what will happen in the future. I would allow the charge for the possible future protection of my dc if nothing else.

yes, we are separated. When my sister called the police I was petrified, but when they came I decided to go for it fully. He cannot come here, he cannot contact me in any way, I'm telling the police everything even if it's really difficult, personal stuff.
Some people seem to think I'm over reacting and should let him off. I've heard: you're going to ruin him, he'll never get work again, how will he support you if he's in prison (?) and now that I've scared him good and proper I should call it off.
I'm sure a lot of women have this crap thrown at them from close quarters. It's hard enough with all the anxiousness and sadness, but for those who do not have a rl support system it must be torture.

bravo for telling the police everything, despite all the conflict and horrible opposition.

And to counteract the nonsense people have said to you:

• HE over reacted, dangerously. Not you
• He ruined himself
• he is a rapist
• He doesn't deserve to be let off
• All of this is his fault.

You are doing the right thing, turbo, and you're being extremely brave.

I just want to clarify - the OP and other posters are talking as if the CPS is giving you a choice about what your exp is charged with - I thought, and I am happy to be corrected, but if there is enough evidence to charge your exp's and its in the public interest, then irrespective of if you don't want it to go ahead, it will go ahead anyway -

You can't just "call it off" because he has "learnt his lesson" - it might help to tell those people that are not supportive to you this - that there is nothing you can do, as it is nothing to do with you because if you break the law, then the legal system takes over.

You are absolutely right matureunistudent. this is a great development that avoids people being scared and then withdrawing charges through external pressure. The CPS decides what the charges are according to statements given and evidence available.
Apparently I could withdraw my statement, but would then be presented with a court summons. If i then didn't show up I could be prosecuted for showing contempt for the court. None of this is going to happen. I did not lie, so have no need to withdraw my statement. It is just very hard, and lots of feelings are swirling about. I felt overwhelmed and like I would not be able to go through with it, in terms of having to bear witness in court. (even if technically I do not have the choice anymore - a good thing in my opinion)
Sorry to give the wrong impression regarding this!

His actions
His fault
His problem
His guilt
His shame
His responsibility

Remember hes an adult, a grown man who is responsible for his own actions. You couldn't make him stop and be the loving caring man he should have been and equally you didn't/couldn't make him do all those vile abusive things he did to you.

Keep this in mind and stay strong. He is his own man, made his own choices and they were his actions - the consequences are his and his alone.

Hi OP. First, just a disclaimer to say that I haven't read through the whole thread, so don't know what the latest development is.

But I just want to say one thing. During the course of my work, I come across cases every day of someone who was killed or maimed at the hands of an abusive partner. And before the final eventuality, there are always events that led up to it which were a clear indication of what was to come, but sadly the abused person did not leave (usually because they were too terrified).

By reporting him to the police and pressing charges, you are not only protecting yourself and your DCs, you are protecting the women and children who may unwittingly fall victim to him in the future.

Don't pay any attention to his family - they are in denial, and probably comfortable with criminality. Your partner must face justice as heis a danger to other people.

Well done for your courage, OP. Run, run, run for your life and your DCs lives.

Turbo, if your appearance in court is in England or Wales, then if the quality of your evidence would be affected then the CPS will be able to put in an application for your evidence to be given from behind screens or in some cases, from a video suite. To put your mind at rest, ask what the court has ordered for your evidence, how you are to give it. You will also have the support of witness support. But there isn't anyone who could not share your worry about having to relive this in court. I think you are a v brave person standing up for yourself and I wish you well.

wow, he's changed his plead to guilty! Oh the relief. I don't know what will happen to the other two charges the police mentioned, but he's pleaded guilty to the two that were there.
I don't have to witness in court, and hope I can get moving with the residency order and just get our lives on track porperly!
Just had to say hurray on here too!

Yay turbo! Thank goodness

Really proud of you for sticking to your guns. You should get huge personal confidence from the way you've seen this through, especially in the face of those who wanted you to back down. Glad he's not making you go to court and I hope you're getting plenty of support from the authorities, friends and family. Good luck

I'm so pleased for you that you dont have to go to court. My abusive ex talked me into retracting statements against him. I subsequently had to tell the DV policewoman that I was lying. I frigging well wasnt. I felt pathetic. I spoke the truth, and XP could not bear the truth about him coming out.
I left him after he came at me with a knife. I wish I'd have found the strength to have him done. He deserved it. He needed convicting.
I hope your XP gets a prison sentence OP. What a vile man.

thanks for flowers :)
maidmarian, that is awful.
I thought briefly to retract statments to protect him. But I do not lie, so if his actions are so bad they can't stand the light of day, too bad for him.
It did help knowing that it was the CPS vs him. I don't know if that's a fairly recent development to avoid scenarios like yours. I'm sure they knew you weren't lying, but they are powerless to help you. They must have breathed a sigh of relief that you managed to get away alive.

Good luck to all who are dealing with this!