I am not condoning this at all. I am absolutely disgusted.
I have nothing against age gap relationships but find the idea of a 16 year old girl - who turned 16 just under 2 weeks ago - seeing a man who is 35, practically 36, and the same age as her father, morally corrupt.
I found out Tuesday just gone. I didn't want to immediately flip and potentially push her to him but I made it clear I was extremely concerned for her and appalled with him.
He met her when she was 15 and a half. They met doing an activity they both enjoy and she became friends with him and a group of people there. I met him and he seemed ok. He was well liked and seemed well respected by people younger and older than him.
It progressed to him giving her lifts home and helping her with GCSE coursework. The help with coursework was only ever done at my home with me present.
He took my number and started messaging me. He was a little flirty but not overly so. He led me to believe he was interested in me and thinking back, I think that was to divert from the fact that it was my 15 year old he was interested in.
The guilt and shame that I feel is immense. I failed my daughter. I will never, ever forgive myself for this.
On Thursday evening I called the police. My dd walked in, realised who I was talking to and went beserk, tried to get past me and out the front door. I had to try and stop her, she was pushing, shoving and elbowing me. The police sent two officers straight away. The gist of it all was that as she's 16 there's nothing they can do.