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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

DP tracking his ExW and reading her emails.

609 replies

NameChangeAsThisIsBloodyAwful · 26/06/2018 08:29

Urgh. This is really messing with my head.

So, DP has been separated for 2 years. Divorce in progress. He left. There are 2 older teenage DCs. We have been together 1.5 years, it's serious and we will be moving in together.

Basically, without writing a novel, there are a few issues at play here. He tracks his ex wife on Find My IPhone - he has the password. He says he does it to see where his children are (on same cloud), and so that he doesn't ever have to bump into exw. I've been unhappy with this as it smacks of not letting go, and of control - not to mention legal implications of invasion of privacy.
Thing is, it's not just for the kids. The exw had a night out on Saturday and he kept checking to see where she was and was frustrated that her phone seemed to be offline.
We rowed about it. I told him he needs to let go. He told me that he has let go, but because of the nature of the split - she took it very badly and it's impacted massively on his relationship with his children who took their mum's side and don't really want to see him, that he does it to feel part of the children's lives still...or something,

It's not only that. He regularly checks her email. He also has that password - she isn't technogically minded, and he set up all these things when they were still together. He says he does it see if there are any emails regarding a sport his eldest dc takes part in, as the exw is telling him nothing anymore. I think that is also completely unacceptable.

Further, he's been very reticent about telling her that he has a new relationship. I accepted that due to the precarious nature of his relationship with his kids and didn't want to rock the boat. However, at this stage we are serious about a future together. The other week we were spotted by a relative of the exw who reported back to her that we had been seen together. She text him to ask if he was with someone else, and expressed that he had promised to tell her if he was seeing someone new, and that it hurt to hear second hand (totally reasonable of her in my opinion) and that she (and the kids, she always involves them) would like the truth from him.

He text her back minimising everything, saying it was someone he had very recently started seeing and that it was far too soon to tell the children.
Lies. Total lies. We've been together since 2016. He has met my entire family and child many times. We have had family holidays together and we are going to be buying a house together.

He is just so scared she will use anything against him to create an even worse relationship with his children.

To say I'm fed up of all of this is a huge understatement. We also rowed about his reply to her text. I understand he would have preferred to tell her that he was in a relationship and not for her to hear it second hand, but he should have told her before, in my opinion. And now that she knows something, he should have been more honest. Not to rub her nose in it, but not to minimise me and make me feel like a nothing in his life.

The rest of our relationship is excellent, otherwise I'd not be able to cope with his.

I don't know what to do about this though. I don't know if I'm being unreasonable or he is. I am looking for some advice on how to handle it.

OP posts:
LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 26/06/2018 08:32

You know, I think, that his behaviour is completely unacceptable. He's stalking his ex. That's the top and bottom of it.

I don't know why, I don't actually care why. He's a controlling jealous stalkery freak and you should take to the hills. I know that's hard to hear. But this is not an OK situation.

You should also let her know he's tracking her and has her password.

reddressblueshoes · 26/06/2018 08:34

What he is doing is stalking. By any definition. I honestly think you need to tell his ex-wife that he is accessing her emails, and tracking her online. I am quite shocked by the extent to which you are minimising it.

The 'rest of your relationship' is great? The parts where he isn't denying you exist, and focusing his time on stalking another woman? All his actions are centred around her. He may have left but he clearly still wants to control her. The red flags are overwhelming.

In your situation, I would a) find contact info for the ex-wife and tell her that she needs to change all her passwords and b) leave the relationship. I honestly don't see how there is any other option. What he is doing - and justifying! - is so outside the realm of normal behaviour I'm amazed he's managed to convince you otherwise.

SleepingStandingUp · 26/06/2018 08:35

Run??

He's stalking his ex and minimising your relationship to her.

What will he tell her when you live together? Do you plan on joint children together? What will he tell her then?

Is he paying maintenance?
Has he been to court for access?

pissedonatrain · 26/06/2018 08:35

It's very weird and creepy.
If he is the one who left, did he leave because he was cheating?

When is the divorce final?
Remember, he still is married.

Maybe you are serious about him, but his actions aren't serious towards you.

notapizzaeater · 26/06/2018 08:37

If he was serious about you he wouldn't feel,the need to do this.

bunchofdrapes · 26/06/2018 08:37

What he's doing to her he will likely do to you. (Perhaps he already is)

Run

MrsBertBibby · 26/06/2018 08:38

Oh my god, he is a lunatic.

He has set up all this stuff on you. He is probably reading this now.

Get out. Tell his ex, tell the police, and sort all your own online security.

There's a reason his kids don't want to know him. It's not their mum, It's him.

I'm a famiky solicitor, and my professional advice is run like fuck. And keep running.

user1493413286 · 26/06/2018 08:38

That is all ringing MASSIVE alarm bells and I would get out of there while you can!
He is basically stalking her; I’d be seriously worried about that. How do you know he doesn’t do the same to you?
Also do you know that anything he’s told you is true? As in has anyone else told you this other than him?
I really wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out she had left him and that the children don’t see him for another reason.
I also think it’s unacceptable to be hidden from their lives.

KeiTeNgeNge · 26/06/2018 08:38

Jesus I’d be sprinting away from this nutter. Red flags all over the place!!

SoupDragon · 26/06/2018 08:39

So, he is a proven liar, jealous and he stalks his ex wife.

How do you see your relationship panning out...?

OrchidInTheSun · 26/06/2018 08:39

You're planning on moving in with a man who is stalking his ex. He is abusive and treats women like possessions. You would be crazy to move in with him.

Aussiebean · 26/06/2018 08:40

You know he can contact the school and ask that he be included in all letters, information and emails?

Schools will do two of everything in this situation. He just has to ask.

Oh and run...

strawberrypenguin · 26/06/2018 08:41

Good grief don't move on with this man! Run a mile instead.

I'd tell his ex that he still has access to her Find my iPhone and emails - he's stalking her.

I hope you haven't given him any passwords/ find my friends access. If you have you need to change passwords etc

arranfan · 26/06/2018 08:43

OP wrote: "we are serious about a future together".

It sounds like that is true for you but not so much for him? The tracking and email access is a major warning signal that he can't let go.

He minimised your significance and lied in the face of his ex's reasonable response.

If he is currently fearful of a bad relationship with his DC, what is likely to happen when this tracking and email reading comes out (as it will, some day)?

I can't think just how excellent in how many ways a relationship would have to be to make what you describe sound like an annoying quirk rather than warning signal for something quite distressing.

Now that your relationship is 'out', have you told him that he should tell his ex how long you've been together and arrange a get-together? Presumably, you'll have to liaise about their children, assuming he has EOW or sees them regularly and this would continue should you move in together?

MistressDeeCee · 26/06/2018 08:43

He is stalking her. I hope she finds out and calls the police

Whatever story he's given you, I'd bet she left him not the other way around. He is an obsessive. & I bet he'd go back to her at the drop of a hat if she'd have him. He is still very much interested in her.

You are arguing with a man who has zero respect for you or the relationship, no matter what spin he tries to put on it.

In your shoes I absolutely would not stay with man who could do this kind of thing. Its so distasteful and creepy. I'd leave him. & I would tell his ExW why.

Don't move in with this man - you can do far better than spending life arguing and then probably end up snooping on him to see the lengths he will go to re his obsessive control issues around his ExW.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 26/06/2018 08:43

Oh my good god. If these aren't serious red flags I don't know what is.
Run as fast as you fucking can and tell his ex wife that he's stalking her.
This is al kinds of unacceptable on every single level. Appalling.

You cannot trust this man - he is showing you what he is. Believe it.

Hissy · 26/06/2018 08:44

Watch how he treats her

He will treat you EXACTLY the same

I’d tell the wife. She has a right to privacy.

MyKingdomForBrie · 26/06/2018 08:45

Don't buy a house with this guy!!

I would also stop listening to his BS about being 'so scared' about his relationship with the kids, it's just total shite. He left their mum and it's taking them some time to forgive him - totally normal and not her fault.

NoelHeadbands · 26/06/2018 08:47

This is disgusting.

Run far, far away but be sure to let his ex know about his stalking

watchingwithinterest · 26/06/2018 08:47

Jesus christ, this situation is really serious.

Change all of your passwords on everything firstly and secondly you have to contact his ex wife and tell her. It is seriously creepy that he is following her around like this, she needs to know.

You know this has nothing to do with the children don't you? He is trying to find out if she is with someone else because he still has feelings for her. This is the reason he hasn't told anyone about you.

For goodness see the light, you need to tell him to get the hell of your life. He is stringing you along, stalking his ex wife and this IS a form of controlling her. Why would you even consider staying with a man like this????

Soloooo · 26/06/2018 08:47

He’s stalking her and spending a Saturday night with you checking up on her.

What is he doing when you’re not around?!

Do not trust him.

NameChange30 · 26/06/2018 08:47

Run for the fucking hills woman

You know all this and yet you’re still with him?

What is wrong with you?!

Are you afraid you can’t do better?

End the relationship. And do his ex a favour and tell her the extent of his stalking. I would be tempted to report to the police too.

I hope to God you have your own phone, email etc locked down to the max.

Branleuse · 26/06/2018 08:48

thats pretty weird mate

watchingwithinterest · 26/06/2018 08:48

It is also a criminal offence BTW, for good reason.

Branleuse · 26/06/2018 08:48

i wonder if he would stalk you

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