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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

DP arrested for assault (advice from mums please!)

324 replies

unsure141 · 28/07/2020 08:38

Hello,

This is my first post on mumsnet and in all honesty it might just be because I need some mums to reassure me (abusive relationship with own).

In short: my boyfriend (21) was arrested at 2am last night for assault on me, the police were called by two separate witnesses and despite my protests he was taken into custody where he is atm.

If you need more details: we are both 21, final year of uni, and live together. We have been together since October 2019 (I know it’s not a long time). He has some mental health issues and quite a spiteful temper when he really snaps. Last night we went out and came back around midnight. An argument started over what to watch on Netflix (I knowConfused ) and it escalated to the point of him pushing me onto the sofa whenever I tried to get up, and then he pushed me backwards into the kitchen counters. I am not injured but it was obviously unpleasant. This is not the first time he has been physical (and to be 100% transparent, at times I have given as good as I’ve got, though he is 6ft and I’m 4ft 11). We spoke about it roughly 20 mins later and he apologised, as did I for starting the argument and for something unkind I said during. The pushing incident was witnessed, unbeknownst to us, by two neighbours in flats that have a direct view into our kitchen, both of whom called the police. When the police arrived I was obviously very shocked as I knew I hadn’t called them, but I was happy to talk to the officers. They explained that even though I didn’t want to give a statement, that because it was a domestic incident, it’s protocol to arrest him. I begged to be able to see him before he left but this was refused for my own safety, which I understand though by this point he was calm. The officers returned shortly afterwards and told me that DP had been cooperative and calm, albeit quite mardy and a bit dramatic. They told me he would most likely be released between 11am-5pm today, but I’ve heard nothing more.

I suppose I am making this post because I have nobody to talk to. My friends already think he’s an arse (he is but to be fair, they don’t always see the nicer parts of our relationship), as mentioned before I don’t have contact with my mum, my dad has left me on ‘read’ when I messaged him about this, and I’m an only child, no extended family.

The reason I am so worried about him is because I am terrified this will be my fault somehow in his mind. I know rationally that’s ridiculous because I am literally the victim, and he KNOWS I didn’t call the police, but I know what his mind can get like when he’s isolated. He also won’t be taking his medication when he wakes up like he should, as it’s here and not with him.

I think I am probably upset and tired over nothing, but I would really just like some advice from a Mum please. What would you tell your daughter to do in this situation?

(I know the majority will say LTB, but like all women in this situation, I’m caught up in the fact that I really do love him with all my heart. The thought of him in a cold cell by himself is devastating for me).

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post, I’m sorry if I’ve drip fed, I haven’t slept all night. Also I’m sorry if I’ve put this in the wrong section!

OP posts:
flowerflies · 28/07/2020 15:47

My friends already think he’s an arse (he is but to be fair, they don’t always see the nicer parts of our relationship)

The nicer parts of your relationship should actually be the default and not hidden away. Get out now.

AdaColeman · 28/07/2020 16:01

One thing you should consider as you start to put your own life together again, is getting yourself some therapy, perhaps the university offers a counselling service for students.

If so, take advantage of it, use it to help you learn how to put boundaries in place, so you will never again allow anyone to create a victim of you.

Love and violent threat are never synonymous. This is a lesson you need to learn quickly.

ChavvySexPond · 28/07/2020 16:15

OP you sound like every domestic abuse victim I've ever known and if you were my daughter I'd move heaven and earth to get this man away from you.

Neighbours generally see and hear quite a lot before they call the police. What else will yours have seen?

ChavvySexPond · 28/07/2020 16:17

Forgot to say. Freedom training is really useful. Hopefully they run it in your area.

NotFrozen · 28/07/2020 16:17

Wish I could give you a hug and a handhold OP. Really brave decision. Stay strong. Well done for taking care of yourself. You deserve kindness, peace, acceptance and a better life than what he was offering.

ThatsNotMyPanda · 28/07/2020 16:21

stuff his medication.

he's an adult. he can sort it.

I know someone who had a non-molestation order against her ex due to being beaten to a bloody pulp who would ring him up to read to him over the phone how to take his tablets.

i said to her ' Can he read english? is he an adult? he can fucking sort it'.

OP- your ex can fucking sort it.

AnotherEmma · 28/07/2020 16:30

Read your latest update. Hurrah! Smile

I'm proud of you OP. And it cheered me to read this:
"You have all made a frightened young girl feel very much like an empowered young woman."

Onwards and upwards 💪

CuppaZa · 28/07/2020 16:39

As a mum, and also as a woman who spent years suffering in an abusive relationship, I would tell you that from here on out it will get worse and worse, interspersed with lovely times, but it will happen more and more frequently and get more and more severe.
Being lovely during the time’s he is not attacking you is exactly what they do to keep you. If they were abusive 100% of the time they wouldn’t ever keep a relationship would they?
Men like this get worse, not better. You can’t save him or change him. He will cause injuries, both psychological and physical, and he will leave damage that you will carry around forever.
@unsure141, you are clearly an intelligent and mature 21 year old. You deserve (and will have) someone who equals you in that respect, as well as making you feel safe, loved and cherished.
I hope you are able to take the advice given here Flowers

dewisant2020 · 28/07/2020 17:17

My ex husband was awfully abusive towards me and I remember my family and friends all begging me to leave him.
Unfortunately at the time I wasn't ready for that, I was madly in love with him but he also had a control over me and made me believe I was useless without him.
It took some years of constant verbal & physical abuse and even rape for me to realise my life was in danger and to work up the courage to leave him.
Please do not be hard on yourself it's okay everyone telling you to leave but I know that isn't always easy to do.
Look after yourself, be kind to yourself and more importantly try & keep yourself safe xx

Laundrywoman · 28/07/2020 18:01

You've done amazingly well, op, I'm so proud of you.
Next big step is block him everywhere and don't ever respond to his messages.
It's over and he's out of your life for good.

You've got this - you're safe now with your dad, onwards and upwards
to the next chapter. Flowers

nevernotstruggling · 28/07/2020 19:11

I was the op 20 years ago too. Same story really. Someone called the police for me as well and the officers gave me some very kind advice to never look back.

However it wasn't enough to stop me from tolerating several more abusive relationships. Op please get some formal support if you can from the freedom programme or similar you need it and I mean that in the kindest most supportive way xx

HoneysuckIejasmine · 28/07/2020 20:03

Well done OP! what a star. You'd do well to block him on everything. And don't answer calls from unknown numbers. Contact your landlord asap to let them know you've moved out.

Glitterandunicorns · 28/07/2020 20:14

Congratulations OP! You have been so brave to contact your Dad and leave an unhealthy and unsafe situation.
Block him, and best of luck for a healthy, happy future. X

CoopsMalloops · 28/07/2020 20:18

I would be devastated if my daughter was being pushed around and abused and worried as you have been.

I’m so happy to see you called your Dad and you are safe.

Stay strong, you have don’t nothing wrong.

MitziK · 28/07/2020 20:29

Well done, @unsure141. And well done Dad and well, well done, neighbours who intervened.

I agree with others that you need to completely cut him and his toxic mother off. Don't engage at all - block him and her on all social media, phones, email if at all possible. His problems are not your problem or your responsibility - as they involve pushing and shoving around somebody the size of a ten year old, you need to be as far away from him as possible for your own safety. Permanently.

And let the police know that you barely escaped him coming back to the flat. If he's breaching an order, it needs to be reported.

But other than that, let your Dad look after you for a bit, contact student welfare and the landlord tomorrow - and eat ice cream and snuggle up under blankets tonight. You deserve so, so much better than what he liked to do to you.

howfarwevecome · 28/07/2020 20:33

Block him on your phone and social media accounts now.

Well done, OP. Honestly. Well done. Remember what you have done to protect yourself is really, really hard to do. Be proud of standing up for yourself and moving forward.

zaffa · 28/07/2020 20:35

@unsure141 I'm so proud of you. If you were my daughter I would give you the biggest hug and tell you over and over how proud I was of you and how very much you do not deserve anyone to ever treat you as anything other than a valued and loved individual who brings something unique and special to the relationship.
No matter how hard it gets, you keep remembering that you have saved your own future children from a life with a father like that, and you have saved yourself from a life with a man like that.
Baby steps, and don't look back. Well done OP x

BitOfANameChange · 28/07/2020 20:37

OP, it took me 30 years to get out of an abusive relationship. My DD has learned a lot from me, we've talked quite a bit since we left, and we've also talked about threads on here that had useful information. She's already dumped a BF who demonstrated red flags.

But, she does have some MH issues as a result of me leaving it so long, and I wish I could have left sooner.

I, too, left with feelings of guilt about how my ex would cope, conditioning from years of putting him first. Now, more than 3 years on, I have no feelings towards him, and no feelings of guilt. Once life gets back to normal (so maybe next year) I am thinking of dating again.

You've had an amazing escape, with nothing to tie you to this abuser, and you should get some counselling to help deal with any feelings, etc now. Don't take him back. Now that he's hit you, he'll feel free to do it again, but behind closed doors so that neighbours don't see what's going on.

I wish you a happy future Thanks

Roomba · 28/07/2020 20:43

This was me 20 years ago too. I'd love to go back in time and give myself permission to leave, just walk away and not look back. I can't do that, so I'll say it to you instead, OP. As a mum myself now, this man is not your responsibility. His behaviour is not your fault and you owe him nothing. You're allowed to leave a relationship for no reason at all, at any time. He has given you plenty of reason to walk away. I can tell you from experience that this will not improve, it will escalate, even if things seem better temporarily. Save yourself the years of drama and heartache - worry about yourself and don't waste your life and energy worrying about managing his temper, moods and violence.

I'm glad you've spoke to your Dad about this, hopefully his support will help you not give in and return to this abusive man.

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 28/07/2020 21:06

OP, have the best life, and don't look back. Well done. So proud of you. Smile

ZooKeeper19 · 28/07/2020 21:57

@unsure141 I am terrified this will be my fault somehow in his mind - read this. You are terrified of him.

Please leave. Leave now and never look back. You are in an abusive relationship, and at 21 it may be harder to see what say in 5-10 years will be crystal clear. No it is never OK to push your partner to the sofa, or in any way manhandle them. Never. It is abuse. You being terrified is mental abuse, as you are worried you will get even more hurt.

It is not love you feel. It's the comfort of him.

Imagine you have a daughter and someone did this to her. What would your advice to her be, "stay, it's OK to be abused"?

CaptainMyCaptain · 28/07/2020 22:02

@ZooKeeper19 she's left.

WildSkitty · 28/07/2020 22:13

I've read your last update and I'm glad that you have left.

I'll still answer your OP which is what would I say if you were my daughter. I would say to you what I would say to my 20 year old self when I was in a DV relationship that sounds similar to yours. Leave. Don't go back. And work on yourself to find out why you would accept behaviour like that and keep working until you heal that part of yourself that believes that you deserve to be treated like that.

Otherwise, OP, you might well end up like me who married another abusive partner and is only now doing the work to unpick all the past hurt and trauma that kept me hooked into terrible relationships.

You are so young and you deserve better. Keep telling yourself that.

CostaCosta · 28/07/2020 22:17

Op, I really feel for you. This doesn't sound like a healthy relationship, no matter how nice some parts can be. Do you have any friends you can be with?

ZooKeeper19 · 28/07/2020 22:35

@CaptainMyCaptain - oh just saw. Bless her brave decision. Good on her, she deserves better.

Stay safe @unsure141.