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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

Partner when drunk gets aggressive, especially when out with our friends

209 replies

Mary0109 · 07/03/2024 00:31

My partner and I have been together just over a year now. We're having serious future talks, one of which involves us finding a place together next year once I graduate University.

Very suddenly however, I'm having serious doubts due to his aggressive approach to conflict.

Over our relationship, he's gotten into a serious fist fight with his friend due to him criticizing (relentlessly, in my opinion) his friend's girlfriend, he's landed in hospital after a bar fight (he was punched up, didn't have the chance to swing at all), has choked me in response to me teasing him while we were at a friend's 21st (I checked for bruising the day after, luckily it wasn't that severe), and during the last outing a couple months ago the following occurred:

We were leaving the bar as it was closing with his mate. The same mate he had a fist fight with, and this time they were arguing over the same bloody subject. My boyfriend not liking his girlfriend. They were getting quite heated, so I tapped my boyfriend on the shoulder and asked him to calm down, but he shoved me aside, ignoring me. Frustrated, and drunk, I approached again and sternly began to tell him to calm down, but he again shoved me and told me to go away.

Note; he's a big man. He regularly lifts weights, and his shoves had me stumble. I was fearful when he choked me, because his arm was large enough to painfully squeeze my entire throat.

I stood by the bar's wall waiting for them to finish their conversation. We weren't in a particularly nice part of town, so two drunk men approached me and began chatting me up. I made eye contact with my boyfriend, but he left it be. I was trying to politely turn down their asking that I join them to a party down the block, when a drunk man approached my boyfriend and his mate, and asked if he could use the bathroom inside the bar.

Instead of telling him he can't, that the bar is closed, my boyfriend told him to "fuck off". The man stepped up to him, and again my boyfriend stepped up to him, shoved him, and told him to fuck off. This lead to a fist fight, my large boyfriend, his tall mate, and this young, lanky man.

I yelled at them to cut it out, and when they flat out ignored me, I felt disgusted and walked off to find a quite space to book an uber home.

Boyfriend and his friend lay the man onto the ground, then ran after me. My boyfriend had a panic attack from seeing me walk off. I'm used to helping people during panic attacks, as I lost my sister a year ago in a car accident and our little sister frequently has panic attacks when traumatic memories from the hospital come back to her. Once my boyfriend was calmed, I got us home, and had a serious conversation with him. I don't want to be with a violent man, and our relationship will be damned if I'm that foolish girlfriend yelling for her boyfriend to stop punching someone up. He said his sorries, and said that to solve the issue, we wouldn't go out together again. I wasn't happy with the solution, but it's what we both agreed on.

Cut to now. In a few days we're going out for a friend's birthday. We'll play pub golf, which will involve downing nine drinks. I've been quietly dreading it.

Every time he brings it up, he talks about how he's most definitely going to end up in a fist fight with one of the blokes going with our group. Why? He stated that when drunk, his friend teases him relentlessly, and in response, my boyfriend will absolutely throw his fists. He claims this is unavoidable, and simply how he is.

It was him confirming that that made the alarm bells from his previous altercations flare up for me. When we have our first fight, drunk and pissed off, when I'm pushing his buttons and he's pushing mine, what will he do?

I need to hear some opinions. I've decided that if this inevitable fight actually does happen, I will go home. He claims I'm being unreasonable for this, and that I have to understand why it's fine. I'm torn up and dejected, but I will not be with a man immature enough, dangerous enough, to hurt his friends, myself, and strangers over things such as teasing and a f*cking bathroom.

Thoughts?

OP posts:
Littlefish · 07/03/2024 07:53

SpacePotato · 07/03/2024 00:54

has choked me

This man has already assaulted you.

Run like fuck.

You also need to be really fucking careful that he doesn't attack you when you dump him. Do not do it while alone with him and keep yourself safe.

I agree with this.

Get out as quickly and carefully as you can.

He's shown you who he is.

Didsomeonesaydogs · 07/03/2024 07:54

You’re 750% more likely to be killed by your partner if they’ve put their hands on your neck in anger. That’s how much of a red flag it is.

Please get yourself out of this situation.

egowise · 07/03/2024 07:54

He didn't choke you, he strangled you. This can kill.

He is a disgusting abuser and has the temper to kill you.

Leave him. Today.

Waittobeconnected · 07/03/2024 07:55

Why would you give him another chance? You know what he’s going to do as he’s told you. You can never trust him. The answer is not to stop going out together. It’s to end the relationship completely. I don’t understand you op.

HazelBite · 07/03/2024 07:59

I'm reading this and all the comments by the PP's which I agree with wholeheartedly, but something puzzles me how on earth do you find his drunken behaviour even vaguely attractive, it would honestly completely repulse me and however nice he was the rest of the time when sober, it would affect how I felt about having a physical relationship with him.

gannett · 07/03/2024 08:01

Every time he brings it up, he talks about how he's most definitely going to end up in a fist fight with one of the blokes going with our group

This isn't the worst aspect of your post at all but this detail should bring home that his violence isn't just a loss of control in the moment - not that it would be any less dangerous if it was. Fighting is something he likes to do. When he's sober, he can predict it. He gets into violent ruckuses because he likes to use his fists and it comes naturally to him. His apologies for his behaviour mean nothing.

Violence of any sort directed at anyone should be the most obvious dealbreaker there is.

OrlandointheWilderness · 07/03/2024 08:04

I get the feeling you aren't going to leave.

Please, please do. At the moment it is while drunk. That might well change, and what happens if you have kids?? He strangled you - that is a serious indication of a danger to your life. Consider if you would ever do that to someone. Of course you wouldn't, be cause we inherently know how dangerous it is.

RadRad · 07/03/2024 08:04

Op I posted already but then I saw you have said you are giving him another chance this weekend.
You know, my heart always breaks when I read DV stories about partners turning violent out of the blue after years together when a child is born,etc. but in your case OP you are going into this with your eyes wide open from year 1, if you don't act now I honestly shudder to think what ypur life is going to be 5 years from now, if you are still alive that is.

QueSyrahSyrah · 07/03/2024 08:09

Honestly I have sympathy for the Women who come here years into marriage, with children and an established home with a Man who has suddenly turned abusive. I can see that for them it seems much harder to leave.

You have none of these ties to him. You could call him right now, tell him it's over and simply never see the monster again. He's done you a huge favour by showing his true self so early. Get away NOW.

Moidershewrote · 07/03/2024 08:09

https://naplesshelter.org/strangulation/

Why do you need to see it again?

He’s already told you there will be more
violence on this night out. Why don’t you believe reality?

https://naplesshelter.org/strangulation/

Cuppachuchu · 07/03/2024 08:09

Leave now. He could kill you.
I would deffo not be waiting to see if he does anything on Saturday. He's unstable and very dangerous.

MariaVT65 · 07/03/2024 08:14

So are you going to dump him today op?

Choking and strangulation are commonly a sexual control thing for men and many women are murdered this way. Sarah Everard being one of them.

BarbieDangerous · 07/03/2024 08:22

Christ. You don’t need to wait until the weekend to see how he acts. If your post not enough for you to see this guy is out of control? You need to leave for your own safety

rustlerwaiter · 07/03/2024 08:23

This bloke sounds awful @Mary0109. If his mates put up with it that's up to them, but the violence towards you is a massive unconditional no.

He'll end up in trouble with the police and if he keeps it up his mates will realise he's not worth the hassle.

I've got a family member I stopped going out for a drink with because he would just cause trouble. If not with a stranger it would be his mates, if not his mates it would be with me. Once the trouble has started you get pulled into it and nobody listens to reason or sees sense when they're drunk.

This family member will still go out for a drink and get into trouble. A few months back he was in hospital with a fractured skull after a night out. He'll regularly have a black eye or bruises on his face. He's nearly 40 now and it's a pattern he's settled into.

I think you know you need to steer clear.

GoldenMeadow · 07/03/2024 08:41

Well obviously you shouldn't be with him. There's not really anything else to say!

Bluesky85 · 07/03/2024 08:42

Every single person on this thread has said you need to leave him. Apart from sounding generally like a bit of a knob, he doesn’t care about you and he is dangerous. He doesn’t seem to think there’s anything wrong with violence, you will never convince him otherwise. What on earth do you think your future with him looks like? He won’t suddenly stop this behaviour. He will continue to take his anger out on you and everyone around him and that could extend to children in the future. Is that what you want?

You have been through a lot with your mum’s alcoholism, your sister etc and it’s no wonder you may be feeling worn down and without the strength to leave, but you can do this, you deserve so much more. Please put yourself first.

As others have said, plan your exit carefully. Change the locks if he has a key beforehand. End it in a public place or over the phone (with no alcohol involved). Make sure you have a safe passage home, with a friend etc. his fake panic attack shows he is hugely manipulative. Any negative reaction he has on you ending it is not your problem to deal with. He needs to look to friends and family or professionals for support. He will think he can play on your emotions to control you. Don’t let him. Good luck and keep us posted x

NewFriendlyLadybird · 07/03/2024 08:42

I didn’t read further than where you said he choked you.
You are right to have doubts. End the relationship now. Really.

DearieMeWhatsUp · 07/03/2024 08:48

This man enjoys violence. Just think on that for a bit. You do not want to be with a man like that.

He will hurt you again. These things escalate, always. He has already strangled you. What's the next step up from strangulation?

Please end this, and perhaps take some advise from a domestic abuse charity on the safest way of doing so.

Naunet · 07/03/2024 08:51

You’ve only been together a year and he’s already put his hand around your throat, you’d be stupid to think this behaviour won’t escalate to times when he’s not drunk too after you move in with him. Why would you pick a man who has shown you he’s a violent, disrespectful, thug who is open to hurting you?

You said your family told you he was a good man after he stuck around when your sister sadly passed. What did they say about him when you told them he strangled you, or are you already keeping his secrets?

hellsBells246 · 07/03/2024 08:57

SpacePotato · 07/03/2024 00:54

has choked me

This man has already assaulted you.

Run like fuck.

You also need to be really fucking careful that he doesn't attack you when you dump him. Do not do it while alone with him and keep yourself safe.

This.

He sounds fucking awful

ColourMeBlue · 07/03/2024 08:58

Run.

jackstini · 07/03/2024 09:05

I agree the situation with your Mum has most likely coloured your views

However, re-read what you have said about him and imagine your best friend or daughter telling you that - what would you say to them?

You need to leave. You don't need to go out in Saturday - you are dreading it because you know what will happen and he's admitted it too!

The only future in this is violence against you. Leave asap and put in your armour against his manipulation - you are not responsible for this horrible man

SaturdayGiraffe · 07/03/2024 09:21

And if he’s fine on Saturday, what, you just wait until another Saturday?

Lamelie · 07/03/2024 09:37

•Don’t go out with him on Saturday.
•End the relationship
•Look into Al- Anon
• Read the Freedom Programme/ Shark Cage/ Why does he do that?
I’m so sorry about your sister. Take time to grieve Flowers

FartSock5000 · 07/03/2024 09:46

@Mary0109 he doesn't love you. We don't strangle people we love.

This man is an abuser and his true colours come out with drink. Make no mistake, that is 100% who he really is. He's just better at hiding it sober.

You should have reported him to Police. This man may go on to kill his next partner. Stats show this is a high probability for woman strangled by their partners.

PLEASE dump him now. Tell him he is NOT to contact you ever again and say that in text as well so there is written proof. If he continues and turns stalker/harasser, then Police can act.

Don't bury your head. This won't get better. It will get much, much worse. He will make you all sorts of promises and swear he loves you but it's all lies.

Listen to the woman on here who have been where you are and we all know you will get sucked in, get addicted to the highs and lows of the abuse and will end up 10 years down the line a battered partner with kids and financially dependent on him with no friends or family cus he wont let you have a real life away from him.

This isn't a bad boy your love can save. This is an abusive thug who enjoys harming others and WILL escalate with you until you are a shadow of yourself.

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