Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

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:
Branleuse · 27/06/2018 18:10

Well done OP. That was difficult, but what you did was honourable and honest.

I hope it doesnt end too badly for you, in fact I really hope that you understand that you can do better than this guy

forumdonkey · 27/06/2018 18:21

OP you deserve better than your DP. You deserve someone who puts you as a priority and doesn't keep you a secret. I know you aren't a secret now, but you still would have been, had it not been for your intervention. I bet you felt absolutely shit being with your DP while he was more interested in what is ex is doing and where she was. If it was me that evening I'd have kicked his sorry arse out of the house and locked the bastard door on him. Find a real man who loves you above everyone else and who treats you with love and respect that you deserve. You deserve better.

SandyY2K · 27/06/2018 18:54

I agree the thread should not be deleted.

TheSassyAssassin · 27/06/2018 19:10

@NameChangeAsThisIsBloodyAwful so relieved to read your update. It's up to the exW what she chooses to do with that info but at least now she knows what has been happening and can take steps to protect herself. As for him - well yes he got upset largely I suspect because he has been found out! You must feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you I know, but you found the strength to make sure the exW had the means to protect herself. Now hold onto that and find the strength to protect you and your child. You both deserve better Flowers

SandyY2K · 27/06/2018 19:12

Well done for telling his ExW. I personally wouldn't have gone to the police having told the Ex. I would have long left the relationship having seen his obsession though.

She can report it if she wishes.

Now you know he can't let go of her ... it just doesn't add up that he's the one who left her... You don't have to elaborate...but it doesn't make sense that he's unable to let go..
and that she wants him back.

If he left...he's regretting it. He still wants her.

I said earlier that you were kind of okay with it...until you realised it was about her and not the kids ... and you've pretty much confirmed that. Don't be with a man who is obsessed with another woman.

Men often leave (sometimes for an OW without the wife knowing) and regret it .... but don't know how to get out of the current relationship/ and or the wife isn't interested in reconciling.

eggncress · 27/06/2018 19:23

Well done OP... it took courage to do what you did. At least the ex w knows now. Be careful.Flowers

LiteraryDevil1 · 27/06/2018 19:35

@SandyY2K that's what happened to me: husband left as was having an affair. Relationship was shit and I'd had enough so started the divorce process the day he left, I didn't know about the affair until weeks later. Husband now trapped with gf with 5 kids, 2 of which are his 😂 Everyone has always said he'd have come back if I'd have let him.

SandyY2K · 27/06/2018 19:48

@LiteraryDevil1

It happens quite a bit. Lucky escape for you though.

This is a serious matter ...but if I was the Ex ... I think I'd have changed the passwords and just imagined him trying to log in and track my location/read my emails and getting frustrated.

Then after a while I'd let him know I knew.

However...It's good that she confronted him immediately...because now you know he's still hung up on her ...hence you remain the invisible secret GF. The ball is in your court.

I don't honestly see a future when your man is obsessed with his Ex.

NordicNobody · 27/06/2018 19:57

Fantastic update OP. You did a brave and selfless thing and you should be seriously proud of yourself. Stay safe and best of luck for the future. You're clearly a good caring honest person and you deserve the best Flowers

crimsonlake · 27/06/2018 19:59

My controlling ex used to do something similar, he left me by the way. As he was paying for my children's phones he used to get print out copies of the texts that went between the children and myself. I also later discovered he had been hacking in to my emails for at least 4 years after leaving despite my having changed my passwords.

Gruffalina72 · 27/06/2018 20:19

m.youtube.com/watch?v=d5NHBn5p9vY

ResistanceIsNecessary · 27/06/2018 20:23

Well done OP.

Keep yourself safe.

I would strongly recommend distancing yourself from him.

MariaMadita · 27/06/2018 20:37

I know that you're just a stranger on the internet and that this may sound a bit patronising.. but OMG, I'm so proud of you!! Seriously, that was an extremely brave thing.

I think the idea of him getting counselling / therapy and you some time to clear your head is a good one. Some distance might help?

Also, please be careful. I'm not saying he is a monster. But he clearly has issues.

He was stalking someone and he did break down... Which makes this a potentially very volatile situation.

It might make sense to let things calm down / let him get a bit better before trying to talk about this?

Good luck!!

MariaMadita · 27/06/2018 20:40

Also counselling for yourself (extra help when clearing your head, trying to find out what you need, an impartial sounding board etc...) Would be a very good idea. It could be immensely beneficial.

RandomMess · 27/06/2018 20:49

ThanksThanksThanksThanks

ru345 · 27/06/2018 21:06

I was with a guy for a few weeks and he admitted he was watching (yes it is stalking I guess) his ex wife's emails they are going through divorce too! We finished other week he was cold and in those few weeks didn't treat me very nice at all. I think now reading back over replies this is a huge red flag of a controlling person! I feel a bit better now reading replies it is over. When he spoke about his ex wife he became cold and nasty about her. He also said how he was purposefully causing her huge solicitor bills to get her in debt and his cousin was his solicitor like a game to him! I was shocked he was checking her emails this isn't normal! I was shocked he told me tbh! It's shameful.

gillybeanz · 27/06/2018 23:26

Well done OP, glad you saw sense wrt the exw.
Now you need to be strong, get rid of the wanker and find a good partner and more importantly suitable sd for your child.
You know you can't have this man round your dc. Thanks

MrMeSeeks · 28/06/2018 00:26

NameChangeAsThisIsBloodyAwful
Well done op, that can’t have bern an easy call to mKe!
You did the right thing though and im sure exw appreciated it.

ReanimatedSGB · 28/06/2018 00:46

Do you live with this prick? If so, do you have somewhere else to go? It would be very good for you to get away from him (preferably without telling him where you are going) and, while you are away, use a burner phone and/or internet cafes to contact other people in your life.

Because he is a very manipulative, very dangerous man. You need space, and external support, but you also need to be very sure he can't find you.

NameChange30 · 28/06/2018 09:17

Well done for telling her.

I think it’s weird that she told him about it - as that made things difficult for you - but if a PP said it’s not stalking unless she tells him to stop, maybe that’s why she did it?

I hope you’re ok, OP. I think it’s likely that he’s been showing some signs of emotional abuse towards you, so please be aware of that. He’s certainly been manipulating you.

Do you have anyone in real life to talk to?

Juells · 28/06/2018 09:54

I was worried she would think I was a complete nutter, but she took it seriously and pretty well all things considered, said she knew he had all the passwords as he set them all up, but just hadn't thought any further. I advised her to change all her passwords immediately on her phone and her email, she said a dc would have to do that.

What a very reasonable woman, to react so well to learning she was being stalked.

Hmm Hmm Hmm

QuiteUnfitBit · 28/06/2018 10:51

Juells Yes, I too though how likely is all that.

JessicaJonesJacket · 28/06/2018 10:52

Maybe exw told him so she has a record of telling him to desist.

Caribbeanyesplease · 28/06/2018 10:52

The last 24 hours have been hell on earth

The ex wife took it “pretty well”
And you’re partner has agreed to go to counselling.

Quite honestly, in the circumstances, I think you got away with the gentlest least drama outcome possible

rumbelina · 28/06/2018 10:55

Well done, OP. You've come in for a lot of stick on this thread but some of us do understand that it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees when you're in the midst of something like this.

You came here for a different perspective, got one, it's blown your mind a bit but you've got on with making changes. EPIC SUCCESS in my view!