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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

So called male friend crossing boundaries

70 replies

Namechange0519 · 09/04/2023 21:48

I have a male friend who I met at my previous place of work in around 2017. He wasn’t from around where I live, he lives much further up north but we would speak frequently on the phone about work related things at work.

I left my job after maternity leave about 2 years after this and we stayed in touch on Facebook and around the same time myself and my ex split and him and his partner split up. I really felt like we had created a good friendship bond, we got on really well and we was there for each other during our break ups and ever since we have stayed in contact speaking on the phone not as regularly as before but I’d say once a month and we would text and check in about once a fortnight.

he met a new partner about 3 years ago and they split up a few month back. He had confided in me that she enjoyed a drink a bit too much on nights out and she would frequently get so drunk she couldn’t stand up and he was extremely worried. He said he had given her an ultimatum and said it’s the drink or him and she had apparently chosen the drink so she moved out etc.

I know he is devastated by this and he claims he’s had a break down (I do believe that).

anyway, he phoned me about 3 weeks ago and asked if it would be ok for him to come down (he’s been to my house before so I was comfortable with it) and stay over(never stayed over before), we could go out for tea and have a catch up and also that he was due at a meeting close to where I live for 10am so it would save him travel time. I thought ok no problem, makes sense and it would be good to see him in person as the last time we saw each other was in October last year.

i said will be he ok sleeping in the spare bedroom and he said no he would rather cuddle with me… I laughed it off and said the spare room will have to do for him and he said that’s fine.

so he arrived at my house and straight away I could smell stale alcohol on him. We set off in a taxi to a local pub to get our tea and he was telling me again about the break up.. but this time he told me a totally different story as to why this happened. I didn’t question this, just made a mental note of it.
I got my tea but he didn’t get any food just sank back a few pints and then I suggested we should leave as it was about 8.30/9pm by this point.

he insisted on stopping at a petrol station on the way home and getting some wine, I said I was ok for any more drinks (I had 2 gins at the pub, I’m not a big drinker but I was happy knowing I was within my limits). We got back to mine and he polished this bottle of wine off in record time. He was moving closer and closer to me on sofa and eventually had his hand on my leg which i brushed off but put it down as he was comfortable with me.

anyway about 12 I was more than ready for bed, I was dropping hints yawning etc and then thought why am I dropping hints in my own house and said I’m going to bed but if you want to stay up you can do (I trusted him) he said no I’ll go to bed as well. I went upstairs first quickly put my pjs on, shut my door and got into bed and went to sleep.

About 4am he came in my room and woke me up by lifting up my quilt and ushering me to move up which I did in a sleepy haze and he got in bed and started spooning me.. I wasn’t very comfortable with this but he said he was cold in the spare room and I thought that maybe he felt a bit sad and lonely given what he was going through so I allowed it.

he started touching me and groping me and asked if I wanted to do this and I said no I know you’ve got a lot going on at the minute and he said ok no problem and resumed the spoon… and then he started again. I was stiff As a board, legs clamped shut I don’t believe I was giving him any indication that i wanted this to carry on but for some reason I allowed it. He didn’t have sex with me, he was touching me under my pj top and eventually got to down there. I was thinking should I just do it? Or not?

i let him do it but I don’t know why. I didn’t enjoy it and wanted him to stop but I don’t know why I didn’t say anything.

he stayed in my bed for the rest of the morning and left about 10am but I just wanted him to leave but as silly as it sounds I didn’t want to come across as rude!!

I haven’t spoke to him since he left but I feel upset by him getting into bed with me and the touching happening. I feel like he had used me to make himself feel better and I have really seen him in a different light now especially with the discrepancy in the break up story and I think he is a narcissist from this new story he told me.. I think at the time I was a bit worried about the situation I had found myself in, with him having so much to drink on assuming an empty stomach and this new light I have become to see him in. I just wanted it over.

I don’t want to through around the SA word but I really do think he has over stepped the mark after twice being told no (1. To the sleeping arrangement and 2. When he asked me if I wanted to) but I don’t know if I’m just feeling ashamed and a bit guilty about the whole thing

sorry that it’s so long I wanted to get everything in.

please be kind in your responses 💕

OP posts:
Opine · 09/04/2023 23:41

I read your post envisioning exactly how this all happened. I’m very self assured but I think I would have behaved as you did. I would just be so confused.

Nothing as bad as what’s happened to you but years ago a male friend really caught me off guard. I was upset for a long time and still question whether men can actually be friends or whether they actually want to sleep with you.

im really sorry this has happened to you. As time goes on I think you might want to involve the police. Were I you I’d allow him to respond to your text as evidence if nothing else. Just one admittance would be enough.
He planned that attack and an attack it was.
so sorry.

blacksax · 10/04/2023 00:18

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Who has a lock on their bedroom door in their own house?

namechange3388 · 10/04/2023 00:26

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On behalf of everyone, fuck off

QueenSmartypants · 10/04/2023 00:26

He's blocked you because he knows he's a rapist - it's rape what he did. I am so sorry, op.

You might find it helpful to call Rape Crisis. Is there someone - a close friend or family member - who you can confide in for support?

ClarabelleRose · 10/04/2023 00:34

OP I am so sorry this happened to you. He completely took advantage of you and carried out a serious sexual assault. Your response was what kept you safe - we know about the fight/flight response to trauma, but there are others - often much more passive - too. Freeze, flop, fawn. You did so, so well. To be violated in such a way in your own bed is just awful.

I know someone who was assaulted in almost exactly the was you described. She reported him to the police. I provided some corroborating evidence and he was charged with sexually assaulting me, as well as the assault on her. He ended up pleading guilty, received a suspended sentence, was put on the sex offenders’ register, and had to do an offenders’ rehabilitation programme.

Only you can decide whether it’s right for you to go down this route. The absolute most important thing is that you’re ok and you give yourself as much kindness as you’d give your best friend. Take lots of care.

ClarabelleRose · 10/04/2023 00:35

namechange3388 · 10/04/2023 00:26

On behalf of everyone, fuck off

This 👆🏼

Guavafish1 · 10/04/2023 03:42

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barmycatmum · 10/04/2023 03:55

Hey OP, it’s completely normal to freeze. Please stop beating yourself up. You likely went into a young child mode emotionally, and simply froze.

that is sexual abuse - and people who blame a woman when she freezes and is raped, do not understand that women have been conditioned so deeply to “not make a scene” and “not be impolite” at all costs.

this is why men need to seek consent. You TOLD him no.

he assaulted you, basically.

you are within your rights to report him, as he needs to learn to do better - or just cut him off. He’s horrible to treat your kindness in that way.

im so sorry. It is unfortunately common, so please do not beat yourself up. You did very well and you DID say no.

💐

Matchymatchylemonscratchy · 10/04/2023 04:13

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Fuck off with your victim blaming and then fuck off some more.

I’m sorry this happened to you, OP. Please consider reporting him for sexual assault. There are also some specific helplines you may find helpful. I’m not in the UK so don’t know the numbers there but I’m sure others do.

Matchymatchylemonscratchy · 10/04/2023 04:17

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Did it make YOU feel better writing that first paragraph? Because clearly it was not intended to be helpful to the OP who is dealing with the aftermath of a sexual assault.

Blueuggboots · 10/04/2023 04:35

Omg, I'm so sorry this happened to you.

What an absolute bastard.

It's understandable that you froze. Please seek some support. I was sexually assaulted at work and it affected me more than I realised it would.

Don't worry about wanting to get rid of your bed - I think that's natural. Can you afford to change it? If not, would new bedding or changing your room around maybe help? Not minimising, just thinking of cost, which could be a factor. 💐💐

palelavender · 10/04/2023 04:35

Drunk men terrify me. If people came back to work to pick up their stuff after Friday drìnks and I was still at work I'd keep out of sight. These were professional people that I liked but with alcohol you never know.

I agree with all the others that he planned this and he was the alcoholic in that previous relationship. Can you afford new bedding and pyjamas and give the old stuff to charity? I'd air the room and maybe light some scented candles. You survived and that is the main thing.

I think a book called The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker would be a very illuminating read for you. It talks about people bring slow to react because they don't want to be rude. I am alive because a man didn't give a damn about being rude when it became apparent that we were being kidnapped in a foreign country and he had the driver in a headlock and told him that he'd snap his neck if he didn't reverse out of the dark underground garage he'd driven into. It was not a coincidence that he sat directly behind the driver and he didn't waste time bothering to ask what was going on or why was this happening.

momonpurpose · 10/04/2023 05:39

I am so sorry thus happened to you. No matter what he's going thru or how much he drank he was totally wrong. Please be kind to yourself. Sending hugs

barmycatmum · 10/04/2023 05:46

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You and “why didn’t you lock your door” need to both fuck off. I suspect you must be men, to immediately come with your reasons she’s at fault when someone IN HER OWN HOME took advantage.

truly - please learn something here - people like you are perpetuating the problem.

emptythelitterbox · 10/04/2023 06:11

He was never a friend. He was just biding his time in hopes for a situation like what happened.

I know some will chime in saying it isn't so but I've never had a male "friend" who wouldn't try to get im my pants.

TheGingerTucci · 10/04/2023 07:14

I think most men would chance it with an female friend who they have conditioned. He told you who he was, kept on doing it and waited until you couldn't send him home the piece of shit.

Daleksatemyshed · 10/04/2023 10:33

He lied about his ex drinking (when clearly he's the one with the drink problem ) to engage your sympathies Op so you'd let him visit and always planned to have sex with you. I'd talk to the Police and at least get the assault logged even if you don't want him charged now, it should go on record just incase.
I'm sorry for what happened to you, you have a trusting nature and he took advantage of your kindness

washinwashoutrepeat · 10/04/2023 11:08

TheGingerTucci · 10/04/2023 07:14

I think most men would chance it with an female friend who they have conditioned. He told you who he was, kept on doing it and waited until you couldn't send him home the piece of shit.

I have to respectfully disagree. Most of the men I associate with would not behave in this way... if they did, I would've very surprised and question their character.

I'm so sorry this happened to you OP. Absolutely awful, well done for telling him why and blocking him. He is a pig.

Nailsandthesea · 10/04/2023 11:19

RedToothBrush · 09/04/2023 22:06

He sexually assaulted you.

He's not your friend.

Break all contact with him.

Report it to the police 101

He is a coercive bastard and it is 100% assault

Namechange0519 · 10/04/2023 11:23

I have just logged it with the police. I feel so brave but also like I want to cry and hide away

thanks for all your kind words and support it really means a lot to me

OP posts:
HappyMe6 · 10/04/2023 11:31

Proud of you op! Well done! Have a little cry please don’t feel you have to hide away. You have done the best thing you could do, treat yourself to something nice, you deserve it, . .

monsteramunch · 10/04/2023 11:32

Another here who is proud of you OP Flowers

ChaToilLeam · 10/04/2023 11:35

I’m so sorry, love. You were manipulated into this position, then you froze when the assault took place. What a hideous man.

Shannith · 10/04/2023 11:49

Well done OP. I totally understand the freezing. It might help you to talk it through with a professional because these things can be more insidious than doing all the right things and putting it behind you.

You did nothing wrong at all. You could have invited him into your bedroom and said no. No means no - absolutely the end of discussion.

He didn't just overstep a boundary- he smashed it.

If he manages to contact you in any way (and I bet he'll try)- send him the local police number and tell him to go thorough then because he's been reported.

He is the problem, not you. Well done for not minimising this, it's happened to me and I found myself blaming myself for years afterward and lots of what ifs - what I should have done. And that way is madness. I did nothing wrong and neither did you. No means no, and nothing else matters - any man that carries on is reprehensible and should be... well let's just say it's a good job I'm not in charge of policing.

Don't go down that route or having a moments doubt - like I said it's sometimes helpful to talk it through - maybe with a female PC who will in black and white state what happened- he sexually assaulted you.

You are brave - you also don't have to deal with any emotional scars on your own. It's a hideous thing to happen and it is 100% his fault.

TheGingerTucci · 10/04/2023 12:13

washinwashoutrepeat · 10/04/2023 11:08

I have to respectfully disagree. Most of the men I associate with would not behave in this way... if they did, I would've very surprised and question their character.

I'm so sorry this happened to you OP. Absolutely awful, well done for telling him why and blocking him. He is a pig.

Like I said, he conditioned her to believing he was sad and down and wanted the usual company. Women are conditioned to accept and keep quiet, and this probably saved her any additional harm.

What a pig of a man. He told her 'he would rather cuddle with me', and this would be his defence because he 'told her' this.

Jeez, I would be taking it further