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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

In lock down last year

6 replies

Pegsonstrings · 05/04/2021 17:25

I met up with my abuser ex. No excuse other than I felt incredibly lonely and so joined bumble. I know many of you will judge me. I know I do.

He came up on bumble and I swiped tight. And matched. I sent a laughing emoji. We use to be so brilliant together, I am a bit of a fitness fanatic so we would do lots of activities together or he would join me on my long runs.

We arranged to meet over coffee. And this is when I realised I didn't love him anymore, which is great. But I did miss the giggles we had and the long chats over nothing and the people we knew. Job gossips and the pandemic. I want to empathise that I had covid in March last year and then complications at the back of that months later, or around the time we met up for coffee. I was unable to walk long distances, and had all sorts of neurological issues. He was a great support and one day suggested we go swimming and he booked this and off we went. I managed a little swim, then got out to shower and change. The changing area is great, with cubicles and great access to clean areas. But to my horror as I was changing, butt naked, taking off the towel off my head I notice he has been filming me as he had gone into the cubicle next to mine. Obviously I said what the hell are you doing, and as quickly as I could I got dressed, got out and waited for him to come out, I 2as really distressed and generally upset that he had filmed me while I was naked changing into my clothes and also quite disabled at the time as I was in a relapse. I never imagined he would do something like this, although he had been horrible at times during our 4 year relationship, this was just awful.

He came out and I confronted him, then told the manager at the swimming pool, and took a taxi home. Once home I called the police, they came, took a statement and arrested him, took his phone and they have called 3x after I have chased them for information with saying its with a specialist IT team. This incident happened last October and I have not heard anything.

I feel awful that this man felt so secure in what he did. And I feel awful because I feel like I called this uppon myself by getting back in contact.

I felt so lonely and going through a relapse just felt nice having that familiarity. My whole family is in Scandinavia. And so I guess I can only blame myself. I am disgusted with myself, disappointed that he felt so comfortable doing this to me and in a public swimming pool too. The reason I reported it to the police was I didn't want him selling whatever he managed to film on the Internet, and I could have been anyone, but he knew what he was doing.

I still have not managed to see family, or talk about it much, and he is a father to 4 girls with the youngest being 12.

But I know a lot of you will feel I am stupid for meeting up with him, and I take full accountability but I am not responsible for what he decided to do, film me butt naked in a public swimming pool. I have to say I feel so lonely with all of this and also like seeing i am not british this doesn't really matter with the police. But knowing my ex, this won't stop him doing this again.

OP posts:
Pegsonstrings · 05/04/2021 17:26

I guess I just want to talk to someone but please be kind as I know how stupid I was meeting up with him as he is abusive.

OP posts:
Pegsonstrings · 05/04/2021 17:55

Anyone?

OP posts:
youvegottenminuteslynn · 05/04/2021 18:15

You poor thing, I'm so sorry that happened to you. It's very common for people to get back in touch with abusers as somehow while we know they are abusive, they are also familiar and we can think well maybe this time xyz will be different / I'm not expecting what I did before so I won't get hurt etc.

But abusers are abusers. He is one. You know that even more so now and must make sure he is never ever in your life again. But you aren't to blame, he is.

Safeguard yourself - that must be your priority. Have you had any counselling to work through all this?

Thanks
pog100 · 05/04/2021 18:32

Please stop calling yourself stupid. You at worst were trusting. You sound lovely, you sound like you have had a hard year and fancied a catch up with someone who had once been fun to be with. You are NOT stupid! He on the other hand is a vile misogynist wanker and I'm so glad you have defended yourself effectively. I know how you feel about being foreign and reporting something, I lived elsewhere in Europe for 10 years, but in this case I suspect it just isn't seen as being urgent, regardless of your nationality.
I think you handled it well, I hope you are now recovering from "long Covid" and can feel better.

Marineboy67 · 05/04/2021 18:40

This has been posted twice under different titles

MNWorldisCrazy · 05/04/2021 22:18

Did you post about this shortly after it happened OP? I seem to recognise the swimming pool part. Apologies if not.

I would contact social services if he has children. I'll no doubt be vilified by some on here, but I figure it's better safe than sorry.
Re: Police, check again for an update and if no further forward then lodge a formal complaint with the Police Complaints Commission.

I'm really sorry this happened to you. You're one of billions of women worldwide who have given in and gone back to the familiarity of an abusive ex - me included. Please don't beat yourself up Thanks

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