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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

Can Twatbadger have access if he won't give contact details?

38 replies

UterusUterusGhali · 18/11/2013 14:25

My charming STBXH has moved and changed his mobile number.
He is ranting about me using the dc as spies and he won't see the oldest one. (His Dsd)
Can I let them go with him if I can't contact him?
I'm very very uncomfortable about that.
His Smother has begrudgingly given his address.

I don't know what to do! I can't afford a solicitor.

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 18/11/2013 14:30

I wouldn't let my DS go off with someone I couldn't contact. I also wouldn't insult my kids splitting them up between 'biological' and 'step'. If he's ranting, let him rant. Keep your children safe until he's more reasonable..

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 18/11/2013 14:36

I agree with Cogito. How old is the eldest? Old enough to make up their own mind about whether to go or not??

Debs75 · 18/11/2013 14:42

I wouldn't let them go if I didn't know where they were or how to contact ex. He is being an idiot in this and as for refusing to see his dsd that truly makes him a twatbadger.

Legally I am not sure if you could refuse contact but morally I would

CogitoErgoSometimes · 18/11/2013 14:45

Legally cuts both ways of course. If you keep your kids home and safe and he wants to object legally then he has to instruct a solicitor.... who would probably charge him a few quid to tell him that he was being an arse.

UterusUterusGhali · 18/11/2013 14:48

Thank you!

I've had a kind offer of a quick pro bono consultation so ill take that up.
I don't know if iabu.
The way he went on about dd has actually terrified me. He's saying I'm not allowed to ask what they did at the weekend.

God what a mess!

OP posts:
UterusUterusGhali · 18/11/2013 14:49

Dd is 11 and very wise.

She doesn't want to go because she has to sleep in the conservatory and he's threatened to deliberately make her late for school if I don't do his bidding. :/

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 18/11/2013 14:53

He's just pissing in the wind isn't he? Threats, demands and all of that rubbish are just bluff and bluster designed to terrify you. So detach and ignore. Certainly take up the pro-bono consultation and get as much information as you can. But otherwise let him whistle and keep your kids safe & happy. As my gran would have said... 'I want gets nothing' :)

Offred · 18/11/2013 14:54

Go to CAB and see if you can get some advice, they're really good. They'll be able to tell you the legal position and you/dc rights and you can make a better informed decision.

qazxc · 18/11/2013 14:59

I'd imagine that most people would not let their children go off with someone they cannot contact. Do your DC's have a phone?

UterusUterusGhali · 18/11/2013 15:15

Dd has a phone. Presumably she can't call him either. Sad

OP posts:
UterusUterusGhali · 18/11/2013 15:16

I got ds from school early so he didn't.
He saw me and is refusing to bring the little guy home.

OP posts:
oldgrandmama · 18/11/2013 15:22

Good advice above - and, keep a diary, put down all the stuff such as threats to make daughter late for school, all threats etc. etc.

qazxc · 18/11/2013 15:34

Asked if DC's have a phone in case he has them and either won't provide you with a contact number or refuses to take your calls, you have a way of contacting your children. But to be honest, he's acting so unhinged/nasty i don't think he sound like he should have access ATM.
Do keep a diary on everything.

fifi669 · 18/11/2013 15:44

If he is annoyed at you 'using the DC as spies', that screams that he's doing something wrong. If not, what would be the problem in saying we went to the park, watched a film and ate tea?

TalkativeJim · 18/11/2013 15:49

Oh dear.

Refusing to give contact details - unreasonable - court would almost certainly tell him to do so, solicitor will tell him he's being an arse...

Rejecting a (step) sibling - horrible, emotionally abusive to his blood children, needless to say. Presumably he was your eldest's 'dad' for a long while? That tells you all you need to know. How sad.

An eleven year old who already doesn't want to see him? Hmm. In a year or so, her wishes will be listened to. Silly, silly man...

And she doesn't want to see him because he's making her sleep in a conservatory, won't let her discuss her time there with her mum - ie, because he is abusive to her? Even sillier man...

Oh and to top it all he's threatened to jeopardise her schooling. Er, hello, does he actually want to end up in a contact centre?

I'd calmly inform your ex that if he wants to end up losing touch with his children, either because he's going to be assessed as abusing them OR because they will end up hating and despising him, he's going the right way about it. See the pro bono person, and applaud your H's stupidity in making his abuse so overt (refusing to bring back your child?!), talk to the lawyer about asking for a residency order so that you can put a stop to any 'not bringing the children back' nonsense, and until that is sorted, stop contact.

The biggest point here is that he can reject your eldest. I can't imagine the catastrophic effect that will be having not only on her/him, but on the other children. They've just learned that Daddy doesn't love unconditionally. He's just made the biggest mistake he's probably ever going to make in his life. When it bites, it'll be too late, I guess. So if it helps you, think about that. He has lost.

EirikurNoromaour · 18/11/2013 15:55

What do you mean he's refusing to bring the little guy home?

UterusUterusGhali · 18/11/2013 15:59

Jim, thank you.
Thank you all. I thought I was going mad here.

He has bought back ds2. I think he'd rather go out anyway. I am enjoying snuggles on the sofa with the lads.

He has been in ds's life since she was 18m/2y. Her biological dad is a deadbeat too. Sad she's so stoical. Poor little mite.

If he takes me to court will I have to pay?

OP posts:
fifi669 · 18/11/2013 16:17

No he'll pay to take it to court. There won't be legal aid for either if you now, they stopped it for family court issues. You can however have someone to help you for free, I think they're called Mackenzie's friends or something? Hmm

CogitoErgoSometimes · 18/11/2013 16:54

He would have to pay if he wanted to take you to court. Is he very wealthy? If not, the cost makes it very likely that he won't do it

UterusUterusGhali · 18/11/2013 19:49

Not very wealthy no, but his sister is a barrister so can give him all the representation he desires.
He's much, much better off than me.

OP posts:
UterusUterusGhali · 18/11/2013 19:50

Thanks fifi ill google.

OP posts:
Offred · 18/11/2013 20:48

Cab can help you with court too. Please go and ask them for free advice.

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 18/11/2013 20:56

I think you could object to his sister representing him on the basis she would be biased. In all honesty I think she'd probably refuse anyway. Is family law her speciality?

UterusUterusGhali · 18/11/2013 21:23

I think it is, moose.

OP posts:
perfectstorm · 18/11/2013 22:25

Sorry to say this, but no the CAB are not always that great. They've told local people so many mistaken things that the MP's office tear their hair out, and a friend of mine who was fired the day after telling her boss she was pregnant was told she'd not worked there long enough to be covered by employment protection law - which is utter bollocks, because pregnancy is a protected condition as it's gender related, and so there is no qualifying period at all.

The Coram Children's Legal Centre offer free help and advice on child contact and residence disputes, and he'd not be able to take you straight to court; he'd need a mediation attempt first. Definitely call them: family law is extremely specialised and changes very fast, so specialist advice is invaluable.

Was there any form of domestic abuse that's been talked about with a doctor etc? Health visitor? Has he harassed you via text message, phone or any other means? You're arguably entitled to legal aid if so. He won't be, come what may. But whatever, I think you need to start keeping a diary of all the arsehattery he pulls: failure to return tiny DS, refusal to have DD for contact because "she's a spy" after telling her he'd educationally deprive her if she didn't do as he said (emotional abuse, arguably), refusal to allow you any form of contact number while the kids are in his care.

I'd also post on Legal here for further advice.

You need to show willing in terms of fostering contact, but you don't need to do anything you regard as unsafe for the children. Contact is their right, not their father's.

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