Worried about my friend's new relationship

[gemmalovesshoes]

I'm really worried about my friend Jenny (not her real name). She's extremely vulnerable, has recently left a DV relationship and was lucky to escape with her life. She has 4 young children (father no longer allowed to see them).
Fast forward a couple of months from leaving this relationship, she met a new man John (not his real name).
John is known locally for getting into intense relationship with vulnerable single mums very quickly.
3 weeks after meeting John, Jenny moved him into her home, although her children didn't know him from Adam.
John doesn't work and sits around smoking all day and has been getting quite bossy towards Jenny's children. I find it too much too soon, the children have been through enough already and barely even know him. He only seems interested in the the little girl (aged 5), and ignores the 3 boys most of the time.
I'm worried that John has just seen Jenny as someone vulnerable... it's a small village so news travels around and most people know each other. She has suffered 2 bereavements recently too, and stands to get some inheritance. I'm concerned in case John is just hanging around for that.

It sounds like a dodgy situation ur right to be concerned I think

I agree but I'm notnsure what, if anything you can do.

She's obviously very vulnerable and it's ridiculous to have moved him in after 3 weeks. His interest in the girl and marked lack of interest in the boys is concerning as is his bossiness towards the children.

There are, sadly, so many red flags here but I can't imagine she'd be receptive to you pointing any of them out.

Is she aware of his reputation? What does she say about him/the relationship?

Unfortunately my friend doesn't see any red flags.
I'm just so worried for the children. They've just escaped after 10 years living with DV, and are now potentially thrown into a new reckless situation by their mum.
Would it be worth mentioning my concerns to the local children's services or Safeguarding?
I just find it really bizarre how she moved John into the family home after 3 weeks, kids don't know him and he's already controlling the family... Doing things like deciding on their bedtimes, what the watch on TV, if they're allowed to play outside of not. Things the mum should be doing, but she seems to have taken a backseat and seems happy to let John do all these "parenting" stuff.

If the rumors about John are true, sounds like he has landed himself his perfect one : fits the profile, and upcoming inheritance to top it all off…

Maybe the advantage of it being a small village are that there a potentially larger pool of people who could help her see through him. People she may trust, a nice little elderly down the road who could recount the history of relationships in the village (not necessarily just John’s, but including him.

At the very least inheritance should be secured in her name while she hopefully gets back on her feet. That can maybe be discussed without the John factor ie cost of 4 kids to secure.

Can you contact the vulnerable adult section at your local council? Social services? He may be known to them... For all sorts of wrong reasons.
Please please don't do nothing. Those dc need someone looking out for them.

Can you make a Sarah’s law application to the police?

I would definitely be contacting SS over this, that sounds very concerning. Especially his fondness of the girl and the mother allowing him to control the children . She’s a very vulnerable mother

I would also consider contacting social services. At the end of the day, those kids need protecting and it doesn’t sound like she is able to do that.

I think you need to protect the children here, this has safeguarding written all over it. Please report.