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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

Sister minimised partners child sex offences, I've now lost my family

129 replies

Littlechat85 · 01/12/2022 16:54

My sister contacted me in August this year to tell me her fiance was going to court the following week to see if he was guilty of accessing child pornography, I immediately told her to go to our parents house for a family meeting and told her she could not continue her relationship if this was true, I would never accept such behaviour, I have children & work with abuse of children, so there is NO comprises for me on this.

I later received messages saying if he goes to prison she will leave him, if he gets community then she will work it out, she doesn't want to loose her Family Or him, but waiting for the judgement.

Because of my children and job, she had been advised to tell me by the police, the police also needed to contact me to discuss.....this is where it goes sideways.....

The police confirmed her fiance was arrested about a year ago, was already convinced of child sex offences, had signed the SOR and was banned from any public place where children could be...... sister withheld ALL these details.

I told my parents this information, yet in the few days that passed Inbetween family meeting and call with police, the sister had minimised the whole thing to parents and convinced them he had been 'set up' they didn't believe me and treated me like a liar

I warned parents about supporting this nonsense and if this becomes public knowledge in community, they will likely suffer consequences of association - he was sentenced to three months right after this....... obviously as he WAS already guilty, a risk to children and she already knew ALL of this, took me on a merry go round to try play victim somehow.....

Sister has been at parents since he was put iñ prison, manipulating them further, I've tried to take my daughter to see my mum but sister is always there and the only time I took her, my stepdad (sisters real dad) ignored my daughter and both parents moody with me......I asked if sister was still there a few weeks back, dad sent message about how they are setting her a flat up ect, I criticized them ' I hope your not setting her flat up for a pedophile to move into when he's released ' as this is exactly what appears they are doing....stepdad blocked me

I called mum few days later as dad had unblocked to message n say mum had been in hospital, I checked how she was and said at end of call, 'dont you go anywhere I've had to lose enough people recently ' indicating to having to distance myself from my sister due to her decisions and minimising behaviour, my mum said to me 'you will loose me too if you carry on what your saying' I snapped and hung up, I was furious my mum threatened me with abandonment (she used this as a weapon in my childhood)

I am just flabbergasted at the fact I've now lost my sister AND parents for standing on moral ground and attempting to remove and protect them all from the damage that could.come with such an association, because I can't even really discuss this with anyone (had to disclose to my employer, was not easy!) It's making me loose my mind, I think FAR too much & keep getting quite angry, I'm also pregnant and they are my only family so it's a touch break to have to make.

I KNOW hand on heart I'm standing by what is RIGHT and thinking of all the victims of the crimes he watched, but to be made out to be the bad one for voicing what is right is really tough, views and honesty from neutral people may help to bring me some peace of mind, this is extremely unusual and even with all my own professional knowledge, it's hard to accept I've basically lost my family because I won't support a pedophile, what would you have done? Xx

OP posts:
Sittingonabench · 01/12/2022 18:59

You are right to cut him off and as he is a danger to children you also have no option but to cut off those who associate with him voluntarily and provide a link to your children. I won’t say how awful your family is as I imagine it is difficult for them and don’t know the details but you cannot control their actions or stop them from seeing him, you can only control your own and protect your kids. I’m so sorry though - it’s crap

Tinkerbyebye · 01/12/2022 19:06

You are doing the right thing, and thinking of your kids

Your parents are adults, if they choose to believe your sister there is nothing you can do. It will be their loss, not only if you and your family but no doubt friends when they find out

Opentooffers · 01/12/2022 19:13

Your mother threatened you with abandonment when younger, which would doubtless leave scars, but also sadly shows that she doesn't think in a reasoned way. Perhaps it was her way, and your sis was equally threatened, because she must have a great fear of being left by her DP if she's clinging on regardless of what he's done.
Your sis will use any tactic it seems to enable her relationship to continue. Looking at your DM - she was likely rehashing to you what she got in her childhood, and so the cycle continues down the generations, everyone behaving and reacting in the same way.
But, you are educated, you are in a job role related and you can see the issues - you are not dealing with reasonable people here, they have a whole lot of baggage which is making them cling on to the status quo.
You can break the cycle for your family and current/future children by keeping them out of your life. Stand up to it, leave them be, cut the cord. You will likely find that your DM may try to re-connect down the line once shit has really hit the fan and they see their error, until then have nothing to do with them, just make your own way.

Sprouttreesareamazing · 01/12/2022 19:16

He will be back inside pretty soon I expect. Keep your dc away. And leave them to it. If anyone asks why you just tell them.

Dontaskdontget · 01/12/2022 19:21

Calmdown14 · 01/12/2022 18:42

Okay, just for some balance....

You are absolutely right about the fiancee but I wonder if you are seen as being overly harsh towards your sister (not him).

Your professional knowledge means that you cut through the nonsense and know the excuses - and you understand that for it to get to court there must be evidence. Your sister is more easily manipulated.

While you are in the right, the demand for a family meeting did stick out for me. Perhaps it's just your wording here but it does sound like you don't trust her to make her own decisions (may well be true and fully deserved but most adults wouldn't like this)

Has anyone actually said he's moving in or are they supporting your sister to start over? I might be pissed off of you made that assumption and scolded me for it without ascertaining the facts.

Perhaps you need to separate out the being right from doing it in such an authoritarian way.

Have you asked how your sister is? These aren't her crimes and lots of people fall for these kind of men because they are good at lying.

You need her to never see him again (for her sake too) but maybe a more calm and gentle approach might get better results. Her feeling attacked will push her back to his narrative

This

TiptoeThroughTheToadstools · 01/12/2022 19:34

You're doing the right thing for you, but you can't force everyone else to think the same way. So you will just have to accept you can't control what they think/do and take control of the things you can.

FWIW I think you are spot on with what you think and how you think it should be dealt with.

You are pregnant so you just have to concentrate on your DC, your bump and yourself.

No doubt it will all blow up in their faces.

Maybe just let things lie for a bit, you might find once everyone has calmed down, your DM and DSF will be more receptive, there's no use banging your head off a brick wall Flowers

LemonPledge555 · 01/12/2022 19:36

You’re doing the right thing, 100%. Although I would imagine it goes far reaper than this, if your mum is previously weaponised abandonment. I’m sorry that you’ve lost so much, but as others have said - better no family than this toxicity 💐

Atribute · 01/12/2022 19:42

I agree with the posters saying you’re doing the right thing but you went about some things in the wrong way.

I would just cut contact at this point for various reasons but that’s easier said than done of course.

Hotmess1 · 01/12/2022 19:44

You absolutely are doing the right thing - statistically it is incredibly likely that he will reoffend and/or escalate his behaviour. Stay strong in the knowledge you are keeping your children safe xx

Naunet · 01/12/2022 19:45

100% you did the right thing. As a victim of childhood abuse, it repulses me just how many people will minimise etc, I can only conclude they are weak, selfish people.

Hoplesscynic · 01/12/2022 19:49

I can see how your sister being in love with this man, could be delusional about his crimes and desperately clinging on to him. But your parents?!
They think you are 'lying', so do they also think the police and the evidence is lying? What a bizzare reaction on their part and they have a grandchild too.
Honestly, if your mum can so easily say "well, you've lost me" she really doesn't deserve any relationship with you and your child.
You mentioned your other parent as Step dad.. Is your actual dad still living/part of your life?

Crazycatlady83 · 01/12/2022 19:53

I'm sorry OP but I think you need to cut contact with your family and let them make their own mistakes.

That aside, can you please not refer to this crime as child pornography. He accessed child abuse images and terminology matters.

Wallywobbles · 01/12/2022 19:54

Surely if your sister has kids with this man they'll be taken away? Has anyone told you parents this? It would be better if it came from someone other than you.

LunaAndHerMoonDragons · 01/12/2022 19:56

Unfortunately I'm not shocked, it's not unusual for a family to close ranks around an abuser. If that's their stance I wouldn't want my DC anywhere near them, it's not just sister's partner whose a risk, if they'd support someone like this what else would they turn a blind eye to. Go low contact, step way back and get some counselling. There's nothing else you can do, they will either realise or they won't, either way NONE of them would ever be unsupervised with my DC. Look after yourself and your children in this, they need to be kept safe in this, that's your most important job as a parent, keep them safe.

lightlypoached · 01/12/2022 20:05

Appalling behaviour by your family.

You've done the right thing.

I think that sometimes people are in denial or ignorance of the full horror of what's in this material and how it's obtained. In your position m, and with your expertise , I'd be tempted to graphically explain to your parents the kind of thing he's been looking at. Really, really shock them. It's a hard and appalling, disturbing conversation to have, but sometimes I think it's warranted - and needed - to get through to people re the gravity of the offence.

If they still ignore it then you really are better off without them.

TheBakingBee · 01/12/2022 20:08

Why are you upset? I wouldn’t want a bunch of pedophile apologists anywhere near me.

witchesbubblebath · 01/12/2022 20:12

Difficult for you, but well done for standing strong.
I'm saying that as a victim of paedophilia.
I'd gather support from other sources if possible. Is there any support you can get from the police or social services?

Littlechat85 · 01/12/2022 20:23

Thank you ALL so much for your comments, honesty and support, it has really helped me to be confident in my decisions.

I appreciate the highlights of my own short comings also, I know I fired off, was demanding and made harsh judgements - I was not prepared for this (I was also assessed by police to see if I can protect my daughter, this caused complications in my employment) so I was reacting as opposed to responding in some instances to the deception & I agree completely, I cannot demand the same approach or expect the same perspective, they are areas for me to reflect on and work through accepting theirs, I do appreciate the honest and multi layered view points, thank you x

The sister refused to give me an answer when I asked if she was continuing the relationship, while I have been a little harsh with her, this was after I found out she witheld info that placed my children at risk and had me assessed by police, while I work WITH them, I was hugely supportive in trying to get her to parents and safely way from his manipulation initially but she scammed me basically......

she blocked me after I asked the question, are you still with him? I know she had made visits to prison and went to court so I wanted to clarify and evaluate my relationship with her, what I will do is speak with probation after his release to confirm his relationship and address and have no contact with family until police can provide that into.

Ultimately I do have to accept that my belief's about my family have been shattered with all of this, I have been villanised for standing by the victims of this horrendous crime as opposed to endorsing it indirectly, my Ch ildren will be safe dispite my family not being protective factors & even though I haven't done things perfectly, I think I have been standing on the right lines, and have others thinking from them too!

I am truly grateful.fot the amount of comments and how every one resonates & has provided some healing, guidance or just helping me to fee less alone and understood when my family couldn't, got MY little family to focus on now and will definitely keep the morals in our household, 0 tolerance! 💖 Xx

OP posts:
Snnowflake · 01/12/2022 20:23

It's sad that you will no longer be able to visit your family but I would sit tight and wait because there will be fall out for your sister and possibly your parents if they keep contact with the fiancee. News gets out. Eventually your sister will probably decide to leave him - try to keep positive and carry on with your life.

whynotwhatknot · 01/12/2022 20:25

jesus how thick are they he was set up-yeah of course they all are arent they

they might come round one day but for now youve done the right thing -you cant risk your own children

Does she have dc

Borgonzola · 01/12/2022 20:36

You've done the right thing, and if it were me, I'd have no problem telling the truth if anyone asked me why I'd cut them off. 'They're perfectly happy with keeping a paedophile in the family, and didn't like it when I told them how disgusting that is.' Simple.

Luredbyapomegranate · 01/12/2022 20:39

You are of course right, you need to separate yourself and your children from this man.

Your family should also remove this man from their lives and it’s frustrating they haven’t.

However, if you want them to do the right thing, you could approach it better. Calling family meetings, and your comment to your stepfather about setting up an apartment for a pedophile when he was actually helping his daughter with her flat isn’t likely to help you achieve your goal.

fortheloveofflowers · 01/12/2022 20:40

I’d be making sure everyone knew what a paedo he is and that you are distancing yourself.
If more people were vocal about this and his crimes, then you’d have known sooner.

Orphlids · 01/12/2022 20:40

If you’re on Facebook, I’d like to recommend the group Necessary Family Estrangement. You will find people there who have suffered similar experiences to you, and are able to offer support and advice.

Calmdown14 · 01/12/2022 20:41

You very much sound like you have your head screwed on.

In time I'm sure they will all see you are right.

Your sister must have some pretty low self esteem to even consider putting up with this, which is somewhat sad in itself.

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