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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

What Is He Up To?

238 replies

CognitiveDissolver · 07/03/2022 00:21

Now please don't tell me or my friend we should just ignore this. I think thats something that suits the patriarchy very well but we are both a bit concerned about this although obviously theres nothing we can do. The guy is up to something.

I was dumped by my boyfriend of 2 years a while back very abruptly. I literally saw him at the weekend, everything was great, we parted on great terms a few days later he phoned me to say it was over because he had someone new. He refused to talk about it or meet up, and I have never seen him since.

He has continued to send me the odd text message though, despite his vows that we are to have no contact. Most recently on Friday he sent me one saying he "felt bad" about the way it had ended and suggesting meeting up.

Now, I'd turned into a bit of a private detective after him ending it and had discovered that he got married in September. I found this out because I got in touch with a friend who I'd lost contact with, and it turned out that he had slept with her too, when we were previously together for a few months and he had dumped me before (confusing, I know). She had felt guilty so had stopped being in contact with me.

She suspected from something on FB that he had got married and found out the name of his wife, which was a very unusual one. I checked the public register of marriages, and discovered that he had got married last September, 9 months after dumping me! Basically, my ex had told me such a convoluted set of lies that he pretended to be an entirely different person from who he actually was. I thought he was shy and liked to spend a lot of time on his own and valued his independence. Turns out not.

We also found out some details about his new wife. She is 18 years older than him - he is 41 and she is 59, and she isn't in the best physical condition. She's a little old lady. He is a particularly good looking, young looking 41 too, and my friend showed me some photos from Facebook and it was pretty shocking to see them together as they looked more like grandmother and grandson. She isn't a young looking 59. She's divorced and has been for about the last 20 years and we don't know if she has children, but if she does, since we are in Scotland, if she dies, most of any property she owns would go to him despite what any will said as a wife has legal rights.

So back to the text message. I let him dig his own grave by sending a reply saying yes, it was a shame how it ended, and he then suggested coming round to mine. At which point I told him I knew he had got married in September and to get lost, and blocked him. Looking back, he had also sent me a text just a month or so before he must have got married, and I also told him to get lost then too as by that point I had finally woken up to the fact that although I didn't fully understand what had happened, he was trouble.

He told me so many lies and was completely convincing, from saying we were exclusive and he wouldn't dream of cheating or even looking at another woman, how he preferred me being a bit younger than him and having similar backgrounds and interests in sport (thats how we met) (his wife is from a third world country where women don't have many prospects other than marrying rich western men, and doesn't seem to work or have any social media presence), how he liked how independent I was and how I worked hard and had my own place, and even how in his business he would never meet anyone else as they were "all old ladies" (at this point he made a face of disgust).

The guy is up to something. He is a manipulative liar and very, vey convincing, and if it weren't for my friend telling me, I would have assumed he was single and maybe let him come round to clear the air. He was obviously even trying to cheat on her at the time the marriage license was applied for. I wouldn't even have got together with him again if I'd known he had slept with her when we were together. Worse still, I thought he enjoyed dumping me and my upset at it being so abrupt, and my friend said she had exactly the same feeling.

I know it all sounds really odd, but its really a strange thing to have happen to you. I'm concerned that this 59 year old woman, who while she might be a lovely person, wouldn't have that many romantic options in life and certainly not with a handsome 41 year old. My friend thinks she has met her and says she doesn't speak that great English. At best, he wants her to cook and look after him but I just can't get my head around it. I have no intention of getting in touch with her or anything as I know I wouldn't be believed and would be shot as the messenger but he's likely messaging other women too. I'm worried it might be whats called a predatory marriage.

OP posts:
Landedonfeet · 07/03/2022 12:20

* I dated someone 12 years younger. It ended badly and in retrospect it wasn't worth the year it took to get over it.*

You’re still not over him OP

pollyroo · 07/03/2022 12:21

Dear god.

You are still so invested in the waste of space ex Confused

What the bloody hell do you want people to say?!

LightSpeeds · 07/03/2022 12:32

There was a programme on R4 a few months ago about predatory marriages - younger people isolating and marrying older people who quite often have dementia or other problems. They get any will changed so that they become sole beneficiary when the person dies.

The marriage to this woman does not sound 'normal' (nor does he). However, assuming she has capacity there's little anyone can do about it.

Maybe call your local Age UK and run it past them (she may be on their records already).

Gonnagetgoing · 07/03/2022 12:38

so it looks like she might be from Mali/Cameroon, which is it OP?

[https://www.worldometers.info/demographics/life-expectancy/]]

Gonnagetgoing · 07/03/2022 12:39

@DropYourSword

One of these *@Gonnagetgoing*!
@DropYourSword - ah I saw this and posted a link after you’d posted this.
Gonnagetgoing · 07/03/2022 12:46

On a slightly different slant, I got to know a friend of a friend quite well due to a hobby.

One day when we were out for drinks she told me about her older ex partner whom she’d dumped who had gone on to meet and marry a Thai woman. The man had then died suddenly (heart attack) but this friend was quite bitter that his widow got the house and the estate and that age of course as his ex girlfriend got nothing! She’d claimed to have moved on with a new man too.

She wasn’t as stalkerish as OP was. And I’ve never looked up marriage records of my exes though I’ve done the odd FB stalking of exes but I think that’s curiosity and normal within reason.

olaamigo · 07/03/2022 12:49

No advice OP but if this happened to me I would be feeling similar to you and absolutely would be giving it head space.

CognitiveDissolver · 07/03/2022 12:54

@LightSpeeds

There was a programme on R4 a few months ago about predatory marriages - younger people isolating and marrying older people who quite often have dementia or other problems. They get any will changed so that they become sole beneficiary when the person dies.

The marriage to this woman does not sound 'normal' (nor does he). However, assuming she has capacity there's little anyone can do about it.

Maybe call your local Age UK and run it past them (she may be on their records already).

I didn't hear that programme but I did look up this link

www.predatorymarriage.uk/?page_id=31

Hopefully that isn't the case here and a much more serious case. There is a private members bill to ensure that the consent of both parties is checked before marriage. A lot of the descriptions of the husband's behaviour in that link really sound familiar (its obviously not the same man though!).

Aside from all the accusations of me not having moved on, dire warnings of my boyfriend leaving me and repetitive suggestions I am obsessed, I am concerned about this but there is nothing in practical terms I can do. I wouldn't send her a letter or anything. I though the church group or similar idea was a very good one but he is involved in the church as he does his activity teaching there...

I wouldn't be concerned if I didn't know what this man was like.

Of course I'm not going to give identifying information on here...I haven't asked mumsnet to delete the thread yet but if they consider that I have given identifying information then please do so.

OP posts:
CognitiveDissolver · 07/03/2022 12:56

@Gonnagetgoing

On a slightly different slant, I got to know a friend of a friend quite well due to a hobby.

One day when we were out for drinks she told me about her older ex partner whom she’d dumped who had gone on to meet and marry a Thai woman. The man had then died suddenly (heart attack) but this friend was quite bitter that his widow got the house and the estate and that age of course as his ex girlfriend got nothing! She’d claimed to have moved on with a new man too.

She wasn’t as stalkerish as OP was. And I’ve never looked up marriage records of my exes though I’ve done the odd FB stalking of exes but I think that’s curiosity and normal within reason.

I looked up the marriage register as my friend told me he had posted some stuff on his professional page implying that he had got married, but it was all very secretive and strange.

I then checked to see if he had registered the marriage, as I wouldn't put it past him to do something odd with that. I actually also checked that he wasn't already married or something and had lied about that too.

OP posts:
CPL593H · 07/03/2022 13:00

@LightSpeeds

There was a programme on R4 a few months ago about predatory marriages - younger people isolating and marrying older people who quite often have dementia or other problems. They get any will changed so that they become sole beneficiary when the person dies.

The marriage to this woman does not sound 'normal' (nor does he). However, assuming she has capacity there's little anyone can do about it.

Maybe call your local Age UK and run it past them (she may be on their records already).

Age UK? She's 59!!
loislovesstewie · 07/03/2022 13:00

Am I to understand then that marriage records in some countries of the UK give info such as when a person came to the UK?

TerriblyNaice · 07/03/2022 13:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

CognitiveDissolver · 07/03/2022 13:07

@loislovesstewie

Am I to understand then that marriage records in some countries of the UK give info such as when a person came to the UK?
No. But the public register gives other information.

Too identifying to say what information is given where.

OP posts:
beastlyslumber · 07/03/2022 13:45

OP, yes, the man's likely a narcissist and is no doubt up to no good.

It's absolutely none of your business whatsoever, though. You are telling yourself you're striking a blow against the "patriarchy" while you stalk a woman.

Do check out Dr Ramani's videos on youtube. They'll explain a lot and will help you get over this arsehole.

RealBecca · 07/03/2022 13:55

Its not your lookout.

You arent over him or you wouldn't be digging into his history, talking to your friend and then starting a mumnest thread to talk even more about him.

I get it. This woman needs to be vulnerable because he cant possibly have chosen her over you. She may have had thoughts he may not genuinely love her. But maybe shes getting what she wants out of it. Maybe shes happy to have company and sex and doesn't have or have plans for inheritance and is happy to spend it on him.

Not your lookout.

You're disrespecting your current relationship by giving unhappiness with your ex headspace over your future.

loislovesstewie · 07/03/2022 14:10

I'm still confused about what public register you mean? I've seen loads of marriage records and nowhere does it say when a person came to the UK.

CognitiveDissolver · 07/03/2022 14:15

@loislovesstewie

I'm still confused about what public register you mean? I've seen loads of marriage records and nowhere does it say when a person came to the UK.
It didnt. It identified when she got married to her first husband and gave her dob. You do a search on the person's name on the register and it comes up with various records. She got married very young to her first husband and other information indicated that she had come to this country to be married at that point.

I have to admit that I thought there was a possibility that he hadn't registered the marriage or something else. That was my motivation in checking the public records, which are there in public, for the public to check if they wish.

Do we really need all this detail? Perhaps send me a dm if people require more detailed verification.

OP posts:
loislovesstewie · 07/03/2022 14:21

It just seems to be a lot of digging for info, which is why I asked. And how can you 'not register' a marriage unless it's a nikkah? Most people know how marriage works and how it has to be legal.
Sorry OP but I just think if you were doing so much digging you really are overinvested in it.

Gonnagetgoing · 07/03/2022 15:02

Your updates make you sound just a little bit unhinged OP - you're looking at his marriage register etc?

Why the F are you doing that? I mean I think I can be a bit Crazy Ex GF type but there's no way on earth I'd be checking the marriage register for their marriage.

Back off! You won't though. Wink

Gonnagetgoing · 07/03/2022 15:05

@RealBecca

Its not your lookout.

You arent over him or you wouldn't be digging into his history, talking to your friend and then starting a mumnest thread to talk even more about him.

I get it. This woman needs to be vulnerable because he cant possibly have chosen her over you. She may have had thoughts he may not genuinely love her. But maybe shes getting what she wants out of it. Maybe shes happy to have company and sex and doesn't have or have plans for inheritance and is happy to spend it on him.

Not your lookout.

You're disrespecting your current relationship by giving unhappiness with your ex headspace over your future.

@RealBecca - agree with all you say.

Maybe his new wife likes him, fancies him - is prepared to hand over her inheritance to him. That's what she wants to do.

Also, even if she's from a third world country with a low life expectancy, she's moved to UK now and has access to the NHS (good luck to her with that), so presumably her life expectancy has increased. It's like you'd like to find out in time that she's died, your ex (her DH/widow) has inherited her estate and is now living the life of Riley having conned her. You don't seem to think that they may be happily married and content.

CognitiveDissolver · 07/03/2022 15:08

@Gonnagetgoing

Your updates make you sound just a little bit unhinged OP - you're looking at his marriage register etc?

Why the F are you doing that? I mean I think I can be a bit Crazy Ex GF type but there's no way on earth I'd be checking the marriage register for their marriage.

Back off! You won't though. Wink

What exactly am I meant to back off from Gonnagetgoing? I've blocked him, I didn't respond positively to his idea of coming round to mine to talk, I don't contact him, I talk to my friend about him and I've discussed my concerns on here.

Hopefully they are happy together and at best, he has found someone who will not object to his cheating. I suspect he is one of those ones who will pretend he's not married.

If only so much vitriol was aimed at people who do that.

OP posts:
Landedonfeet · 07/03/2022 15:12

The oddest OP I have ever come across

And that’s saying something on mumsnet!

Gonnagetgoing · 07/03/2022 15:16

OP - just leave him to do what he wants and if he cheats and she does or doesn't find out it's no concern of yours.

You have backed off yes but you seem to be asking MN for permission to pry into his life and her life even more and it's really not your business apart from the fact that you were his partner/girlfriend.

If your friend spoke to this woman and warned her off, would you then be happy?

You cannot control what people do in their lives only let them find their own paths.

CousinKrispy · 07/03/2022 15:16

But I think people are perplexed about why you've even posted about it here? You've now blocked him, and apparently you're not contemplating contacting his wife to "warn" her. Complaining about an ex to a friend is something all of us have done, but what is it you're actually looking for here?

Gonnagetgoing · 07/03/2022 15:18

@Landedonfeet

The oddest OP I have ever come across

And that’s saying something on mumsnet!

@Landedonfeet - exactly.

OP:- my ex has remarried but contacted me and I gave him the brush off. What should I do now? His new wife has no idea of his cheating, should I warn her/tell her etc?

MN:- leave it alone, back off.

OP:- But she doesn't realise what a nasty psychotic cheater he is and.... will be fleeced of her 'wealth'.

MN:- head desk