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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

Abusive partner....please help

580 replies

linziluv123 · 14/01/2018 11:51

Hi, I really need some advice. My partner is abusing me and has done for 10 years. I’m finally at the point where I can’t go on anymore.
He’s simply horrible to me everyday, says unkind things to me in front of the kids all the time. He blames me for everything that goes wrong. A recent example is Friday, he wanted to put a bid on something on eBay, I asked him his maximum bid. I entered his maximum bid seconds before the end. He didn’t win it so went absolutely mental at me calling me all sorts of nasty things. Basically he didn’t understand how ebay works. Kept telling me the item was worth X amount. He told my 6 year old I’m a druggy too during his rant. (I smoke maybe half a spliff in the garden of an evening, don’t touch anything else, alcohol included. I have give up completely now though so he can’t use it against against me). He said he was leaving but never did. Just sat there with bags packed and coat on sniping at me all night.
I could give you examples of this of about 3-4 times a week from him.
He threatens to leave me and live with his mum, but says he’s taking my 6yo daughter, splitting her up from her 9yo autistic brother (both his children). He’s done it before so I know it’s not just talk.
I’ve had police and SS involvement over the years but it’s only ever me expected to jump through hoops, never him. He’s been allowed to act in this way all his life just cuz he’s bigger and louder than most people.
My mental health has been shocking for 10 years with multiple admissions and medication regimes. My dad hated him but sadly died in August. Around the time he died I just got shouted at and made to feel like shit then too. He even brings it up now saying my dad would be ashamed of me. It hurts so much.
I work full time, he hasn’t worked in 15 years. He’s “disabled” you see. When I finish work I literally have to do everything in the house. He sits at home either sleeping or gaming all day whilst I’m at work. At weekends he has to lie in until 11 and I have to constantly try and keep the kids quiet else he gets up shouting at us all.
I wanted to visit a friend who really needed me yesterday but he wouldn’t allow it. He went to his mates interest.
He’s been violent before but hasn’t been for a while. I admit that I did something bad last year, think financial infidelity. No excuses but my mental health was exceptionally poor and I made some shocking decisions. On the front of it he forgave me but realistically he absolutely loves having yet another stick to beat me with.
I make it easy for him to be awful to me really by doing stupid things but I honestly feel he sets me up for failure. I’m desperate to go to uni and complete my Nurse training but he won’t allow it as we would lose £5000 a year. I’ve suggested he got a job but he won’t.
People think he’s a great hands on Dad but they don’t hear the way he shouts at them. Tells them to shut up then shouts at them for repeating it! He makes it clear he prefers our daughter and I know this is because my son will only ever try and stick up for me. He blames me for my son being autistic, says it’s because of my mental health. I honestly don’t think I’d have mental health problems if it wasn’t for him!
He knows I’m terrible with the finances, yet won’t take over them, he’d rather let me fuck them up so he can shout at me more.
I dread finishing work everyday. I never know if he’s going to have a go at me. He demands to drive a fast boy racer type car despite having no job, but I’m responsible for paying for it, so it’s my fault when things start to go wrong with the car.
He threatens to tell his mum what I did last year and that keeps me “in check” I really would be mortified if she found out as I’m so ashamed. He doesn’t even show remorse or apologise anymore. There are literally no redeeming features anymore. It’s my fault by default every time.
So why don’t I leave? I’m terrified. He will try and ruin my life. The flat is in my name only so could kick him out but he will take everything his mum has bought, which is more or less everything. He’d leave me without a sofa or bed, even said he’d rip up the carpets. He’d make going to Work a nightmare. I rely on him to take the kids to school and pick them up. I had 6 months off sick last year so don’t want to take the piss at work.
I’m scared as I’ve no real evidence of the abuse. It’s all emotional although there will be past reports about it as SS banned him from seeing our children for 3 months back in 2012. He convinced me and SS that he’d changed, I really believed he had. I think I’m ashamed to ask for help this time as I chose to go back to him. I’m just so afraid of the alternative.
I’m sorry this is so long, I really could go on forever about how he treats me but you get the gist.
Please can anybody advise on what to do. I’m scared he will get full custody as he is technically their main carer as I work. I can’t have my children brought up by him and my son would hate to be away from me. I feel so trapped.

OP posts:
ptumbi · 25/01/2018 16:08

He's totally stepped up the nice act, - please be careful. This makes me think he has noticed, he's caught on, he's found something.... Once he knows you are definitely off, he has nothing to lose. Plus ofc he knows where you live Angry and if you chuck him out, I'm afraid he might get angry, vengeful, violent.

i'm not trying to scare you, but the DV people are the specialists and they've seen all this before. And you have kids to safeguard., Please think about following their advice re moving out even for a while.
And if you can, I'd def look at moving away altogether! To your sister's area sounds good - is it far far away?

But - good job today! Well done.
KOKO.

linziluv123 · 25/01/2018 16:48

It's not a million miles away no but it's an area we have no links to and he knows nobody. As long as I'm near a tram line I can get to work with no problems at all. I believe there are good schools in the area I'm considering.
There's no way he suspects I'm planning anything I know that, he's just picking up on the fact I've changed I reckon. He also has done this u-turn when I told him the kids had come to me upset about hurting animals, I had to tell him something as he was getting paranoid as the kids said they know a secret but not allowed to tell!
I will certainly consider all my options but ideally I would like to stay where I am. I'd be happy to get locks changed/CCTV/phone police etc if there were issues. I'd go and stay with my mum for a few days whilst things were organised. He knows where she lives but I would be safe as again, I'd ring the police if he turned up. I really, really don't want to go to a refuge if I can help it.

OP posts:
linziluv123 · 25/01/2018 16:50

One good thing though, I do know he's terrified of being arrested. He's not got a criminal record so far. Hopefully that may help when it comes to it.

OP posts:
cherryontopp · 25/01/2018 17:27

He'll be terrified of the rug pulled under his feet.
He's had where he wants you for years and gets away with doing fuck all.
I would definitely report him (u can do this anonymously) on his so called 'disability' when he goes to karate. Theyll get proof of this and make the lazy bastard work.

Your doing brilliantly up til now.

linziluv123 · 25/01/2018 17:37

Thanks @cherryontopp. I don't quite know where the strength has come from for this but it's definitely there!
I will definitely consider reporting him as soon as I'm safe x

OP posts:
Dragongirl10 · 25/01/2018 17:51

I do know he's terrified of being arrested that jumped out at me OP,

Please use that to your advantage, and as soon as you have got him out report him so that he is too busy to go after you.

Have you worked out when you will do it yet?

As always well done for being such a good parent under horrible circumstances.

linziluv123 · 25/01/2018 18:07

Aww thanks @Dragongirl10 Smile
I'm honestly thinking within the next week, unless he gives me something, anything before then to use as the excuse and go from there.
So the big issue is the kids, having PR he could simply take them from who ever are minding them at the time so ideally they need to be with me. The professionals have talked me out of the idea of telling him alone face to face for obvious reasons.
I could pick them up one day from school an hour or two early when he thinks I'm at work, probably trying to coordinate it on a day he's not going to be home so I can get lock changed. This means he can't get to his stuff for a day or so but I could get his stuff dropped at his mums. When locks are changed and I have the kids, probably staying at mums for a while I will text him telling him it's over and why. How does that sound?

OP posts:
TheMamaYo · 25/01/2018 18:14

Linzi, I would worry about him picking the kids up when everything is at it's peak. Did SS spoke to you about that? Once everything has settled down a bit, I am sure it'll be ok. But the first few weeks are going to be tough.

linziluv123 · 25/01/2018 18:20

Oh no I won't be allowing him to pick kids up for a good while. The ball really is in his court though, he can kick off and do something stupid and risk not seeing them at all or he can leave me alone whilst I get things formal and he won't lose them. It really is up to him in that respect.
I think it's a prohibited steps order I need? I did have one but not sure how long it lasts.

OP posts:
Dragongirl10 · 25/01/2018 18:25

I think you should get advice from Social worker as l too feel very worried for your safety.

I am so very glad you are not going to tell him face to face, that would be so risky.
I do think you need to get all of you away for a while, somewhere he doesn't know of,( he will be very angry,) so maybe consider whether you want to arrange the move you thought about, could you go and stay there for a while? If you and Dcs are properly away he cannot try and grab them until things have calmed down.

You need to be confident he cannot get at them at any point, or turn on you. Best scenario is you are somewhere he doesn't know of.

Please get good advice on this, you need to have proper protection as there is no knowing what he may do....

linziluv123 · 26/01/2018 07:14

I agree to an extent. My fear really doesn't come from him being violent. I'm confident he won't do anything at all that's blatantly illegal, as I said he really is scared of having a criminal record and he will know I won't think twice about phoning the police.
He may try and get kids from school and not give them back, he will also be very "upset" and probably come round to try and talk me round or try and convince my Mum how much he's changed Hmm. That's my worry. That's why I need him to leave me alone.
He's going to get nasty once he realises he isn't going to get his own way, but he will see a solicitor, go to social services, tell anyone who will listen that I'm crazy, took his kids away, he's done nothing wrong blah blah blah.
Maybe I'm being incredibly naive, and I'll have my guard up at all times of course but I think it's unlikely that I would have to flee. I just need things in place so he can't take the kids etc. Do you get what I mean? I would be perfectly safe with my mum and she would help keep my strength up.

OP posts:
rollingonariver · 26/01/2018 08:01

Well done op. You're doing so well not looking back! I hope you manage to escape him with your beautiful children, hopefully his horrible influence won't have affected them too badly and you can start afresh Smile

Dragongirl10 · 26/01/2018 08:18

If you were with your mum LINZI, would there be another man there if he turns up angry and tries to take the Dcs?

Also you could use his fear of the police to your advantage as l am sure you know already.

Plan carefully op and have a back up....sending you lots of strength!

linziluv123 · 26/01/2018 08:24

Yeah there's my step dad there and he would totally protect us, I'd make sure the police knew I was there to ensure they came quickly should I need them. I honestly don't think I'd cope in unfamiliar surroundings. I need the comforts that a home offers!
I will keep planning and keep social worker up to date. X

OP posts:
Dragongirl10 · 26/01/2018 08:32

Sounds good LINZI, ....make sure you have all important documents stored safely in case he does get back into the house...

Ask social worker if the police would be willing to be there, for him to collect his stuff...

Dragongirl10 · 26/01/2018 08:32

OH l just wanted to say, you are very nearly FREE!

splatattack · 26/01/2018 08:34

You are amazing!! Keep going..💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

ptumbi · 26/01/2018 08:38

KOKO Linzi!

And make sure he knows that you have Police protection in place for a speedy response.

linziluv123 · 26/01/2018 08:59

Lol he's just been stressing at kids and said to my daughter "go live with your Mum then" she replied "yes, I'd rather" 😂
That's a massive u-turn from her and it's made me feel good as I know she will be fine when he's gone....it was her I was mostly worrying about as she's been such a daddy's girl.
Yes the end is most definitely in sight!
Good thinking from a PP about letting him know the police are aware, I honestly think it's that that'll prevent him doing anything really stupid.
You see, he won't have a clue about PR rights etc, he really is quite dumb....not until he sees a solicitor obviously so that gives me a little bit of breathing space.

OP posts:
ptumbi · 26/01/2018 09:04

I think it might actually also be worth leaving him a precis of what happens when ie
he is abusive or violent to you - that goes to court and he will have only supervised access to the kids
he is reasonable and responsible - he gets to see the kids in an amicable divorce
He gets stroppy and abusive - police.

In words of one syllable - IF you do this, this happens, no question.

PoshPenny · 26/01/2018 09:12

I'm cheering you on OP, please please take the advice of the DV experts though and if they think you going to a refuge is the best/safest way to leave, please listen to them. Tell them your concerns by all means and see what they say. The important thing is you stay strong and go and stay gone not letting him wheedle his way back in again promising he'll change, because once his feet are back under the table it'll be hell on earth for you all I'm sure xx

linziluv123 · 26/01/2018 09:33

Oh I'm adamant he won't be getting his feet back under my table! Even if there was no abuse I'm done with it, I don't love him anymore I don't really feel anything for him other than pity!
I think outlining exactly what will happen if he doesn't comply is a very good idea I will do that. He doesn't deserve it really but I'd like to give him that opportunity to behave. Not for my sake but for the kids. If he loves them as much as he says he does then he will go with it. It's really up to him and I don't really care what he does!
Obviously I'd go to a refuge if I needed to, it's good to know what all my options are. I'm just hopeful that my way might just work xx

OP posts:
cherryontopp · 26/01/2018 10:08

Your doing great so far.

When are u planning on telling him?

linziluv123 · 26/01/2018 10:33

Just had a phone call from SW. she's setting a TAC meeting up for next Friday. She's basically said this is a case of either I go with kids, he goes or she escalates it. I completely understand the ultimatum and was expecting it anyway. Still feel really nervous about it all though!
I need to leave a letter that he reads once the kids are at school. I need a day off work for this to work. I then need to collect kids from school immediately and go to my mums.
This letter will include everything I expect from him and exactly what will happen should he not listen.
I'll have already took anything I really want from my flat.
What happens next will really depend on how he handles it really.

OP posts:
rollingonariver · 26/01/2018 10:35

You've come so far so quickly!
Of course you're going to be nervous, your switching up everything you know. It's normal to be apprehensive when things change. Good luck!

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