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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

Can someone give a handhold? Partner tried to ruin my trip

1000 replies

Random100 · 03/05/2024 01:31

Partner has a habit of ruining things. Any special occasion he kicks off to try and spoil it. He’s very childish in nature, tantrums a lot etc etc. I know I need to leave him.

I have been staying at his for a few days so has a few belongings at his. I’m off on holiday this morning with a friend and he’s been kicking off in the lead up to it. He has said multiple times he would take me to the airport, I paid for a tank full of fuel this evening as it’s double the distance that my house is from the airport.

He’s been making snide comments that I must hate him this evening. I went to bed early to try and get some sleep and he joined me not long after. All of a sudden he launched out of bed, screamed at me that I was making him physically uncomfortable in bed and stormed off, shouting his head off. I was in tears at this point.

He has just declared I must go to the airport by myself now and that he’s not taking me. He wants my belongings out the house too.

Sat in tears looking at an Uber costing me 90 quid.

OP posts:
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mrsdineen2 · 08/05/2024 10:15

Random100 · 08/05/2024 10:09

So an update. He has given our mutual friend my belongings to pass onto me. I am glad I will at least have them but he is blocked and will remain blocked forever. Not sure if he’s trying to play the nice guy act to reel me back in! I have a feeling he knows the threats aren’t working so is now trying to play nice.

All the threats of him throwing my belongings into the entrance of my workplace were a load of shit then.

Work have been informed and they have been great.

It's absolutely a ploy, but it's one that's worked to your benefit.

Double check everything for apple air tags etc BTW before you bring them to where ever you're staying.

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 08/05/2024 10:16

I'm relieved to hear you've told your work. Now please think seriously about moving and changing your number. I don't trust him at all.

Fraaahnces · 08/05/2024 10:16

I think you need to consider that perhaps the stuff about his housing situation is bullshit. I suspect it’s entirely made up to encourage guilt and you inviting him to move in with you. (And you financing him.) His plan has gone astray and now he has smashed his place up to force an eviction, convince you that it’s all your fault he’s homeless and get into your home this way.
Should you hear anything at all, receive photos, threats, etc, you need to call the police and request a welfare check. They will go around and check in on him and these visits should dissuade any visits to work, your home, etc.
Be prepared for another angry tirade or twelve because you haven’t “thanked” him for returning your stuff. It will probably be damaged and/or contain manipulative notes which should be kept as evidence also.

BaconMassive · 08/05/2024 10:25

Yeah the most dangerous time will be after he realises the the nice guy phase is having no impact. Stay vigilant.

PerfectTravelTote · 08/05/2024 10:29

I suggest that you get yourself a new phone number so you don't have to keep blocking him if he contacts you from different numbers.

BacktoBeginnersFran · 08/05/2024 10:30

This reply has been deleted

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

Christ Almighty!! This is everything that is wrong with that fucking "Be Kind" bullshit 😒
Don't upset the dangerous, abusive man - be nice to him instead 😡🤬

@Random100 - read your latest, am glad to hear he's staying away. Good to hear work are being supportive too.

BaconMassive · 08/05/2024 10:30

The belongings he has passed on, I would leave them with the mutual friend for a week or two, unless you really need any of it.

The mutual friend then won't have any info to pass back, I would hope this takes some of the heat out of the situation.

Also on the off chance there is any sort of tracker in those belongings, they aren't giving anything away.

Neurospicymum · 08/05/2024 10:32

Your partner sounds emotionally abusive. My ex husband was just like this and I PROMISE you, it's does NOT get better. The more you let them treat you this way, the more they push the boundary to see what they can get away with. Pack your stuff, run... And NEVER look back. it will be the best thing you ever do for yourself.

Thistlewoman · 08/05/2024 10:33

mrsdineen2 · 08/05/2024 10:15

It's absolutely a ploy, but it's one that's worked to your benefit.

Double check everything for apple air tags etc BTW before you bring them to where ever you're staying.

This, totally. If you can manage without your stuff for a while, I'd be tempted to leave it in a locker somewhere (like at work, or at a railway station...but not your gym) just in case the creep has tagged anything. And his apparent reasonableness now is yet another ploy, yet another episode of calm before he releases another tirade of abuse and anger directed at you I'm afraid. Its good to hear that your employer is being helpful to you too. Stay vigilant.

Latenightreader · 08/05/2024 10:35

Definitely check everything for trackers before you take it home, and wash it all thoroughly too.

Well done for getting rid of this nasty piece of work!

Cathbrownlow · 08/05/2024 10:35

I agree with the others - stay vigilant, it may not be over yet.

Compash · 08/05/2024 10:39

Just been catching up on this, what an emotional rollercoaster you've been on! And sure there'll be some more to come yet as this tails off.

But can I say how strong you must be?! Because I bet anything you were getting pressure from him not to go on this holiday in the first place? I can just imagine the sulks, the self-pity, the bad moods, the quarrels, and then that awkwardness about the lift... But still you went, and look how it's changed things up for you!

When all this is behind you, I bet you're going to thrive! 🤗

ThoseBlueRememberedHills · 08/05/2024 10:42

Agree with PP. Check your gear for tracking devices and get some proper security.

I would tell him that unless he leaves you alone, you will make a Claires Law statement about him. This may have him leaving you alone but make a statement to the Police, including showing them the photos he has sent you of his smashed kitchen and phone and his messages so he can be entered onto the Claires Law database anyway. His actions have to have consequences and for future partners to be able to check.

I would also carry a locator beacon, personal alarm and set up your mobile so a friend can be alerted i.e., work to the worst case scenario with this muppet,

Zonder · 08/05/2024 10:47

Perfect. Now you can draw a line under all this and forget about him.

SerafinasGoose · 08/05/2024 10:59

MzHz · 06/05/2024 23:35

Great, is he blaming you for him being a total prick?

just block, don’t bother with him at all again, don’t give him any attention whatsoever.

he’s tried to ruin your holiday, don’t give him the satisfaction

He's succeeded; the only comfort must be that this is for the last time. It's the lengths to which he was prepared to go in order to ruin this trip which are frightening. Keep a record of the messages and make a report with your local police. There will then be a paper trail in case this escalates.

Block all avenues of contact. The PP's suggestion of a Ring doorbell is also a good one.

Be vigilant.

tribpot · 08/05/2024 11:06

BaconMassive · 08/05/2024 10:30

The belongings he has passed on, I would leave them with the mutual friend for a week or two, unless you really need any of it.

The mutual friend then won't have any info to pass back, I would hope this takes some of the heat out of the situation.

Also on the off chance there is any sort of tracker in those belongings, they aren't giving anything away.

Totally agree with @BaconMassive here. I think he's probably too cheap to get some AirTags or Tiles etc but why take the risk? Leave them with the friend for now. I also think avoiding direct contact with the mutual friend for a couple of weeks will be a helpful barrier to him using the friend to pass on messages.

SocksMcR · 08/05/2024 11:35

Random100 · 03/05/2024 04:22

I arrived at the airport 90 quid down but at least I’m here and got here OK. I’ve had to leave a bag of belongings at his, just clothing though and a pair of trainers so nothing too precious and if I don’t see it again that’s fine.

He’s now texting me apologising and asking why I got an Uber to the airport. He has said he will return my belongings to me when I return but I am angry right now and pissed off at his behaviour. He keeps saying he loves me too. I am fed up of this cycle.

He has major form for causing a drama when there’s some sort of occasion. Last time was a few weeks ago at my friend’s 40th. He ended up not going after kicking off about something so minor I can’t even remember what it was. It always starts when there’s something happening and I had a horrible feeling he’d do something like this today, I should have listened to my gut.

I don’t want to be with him anymore, it’s exhausting.

Get yourself a copy of a book called "Why Does He Do That?", by a bloke who used to work with abusive men. It's eye opening.

It is SO much more respectable to be single than to be with an absolute arsehole like this guy.

eggplant16 · 08/05/2024 12:01

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 08/05/2024 09:48

Or at least the OPs's posts.

Quite clearly I read the first couple of pages and observed how the person had behaved. I then rushed into making a comment.

Thank You.

BacktoBeginnersFran · 08/05/2024 12:03

eggplant16 · 08/05/2024 12:01

Quite clearly I read the first couple of pages and observed how the person had behaved. I then rushed into making a comment.

Thank You.

Perhaps less rushing next time, and more reading.

eggplant16 · 08/05/2024 12:04

Indeed, you are totally correct.

LarkRiseSummer · 08/05/2024 12:30

OP I don't mean to alarm you but I hope you realize the possible danger you're now in. Leaving such an abusive relationship is the most dangerous time for the woman trying to leave. He has nothing to lose - no job, no roof over his head and now no partner, and he will take out his rage on you, so please please be vigilant and tell others who you trust so they can help to keep you safe.

Also before even thinking of dating again do the Freedom Programme. You should also download the free pdf version of Why Does He Do That? You say he was lovely for 5 months, but presumably you knew he was jobless, had mental health problems and being evicted from his flat? Was your previous abusive partner similar?

Beenthroughit · 08/05/2024 12:35

ManonDe · 06/05/2024 18:00

@Random100 I used to be a family solicitor and we very often recommended people do the Freedom Programme (and indeed sometimes our very vulnerable clients who were about to lose their children due to being in abusive relationships that they could not see their way out of) were basically instructed by the court to do it.

I have heard very very good things about it. I had wanted to do it myself so i knew first hand what it was all about but I know that several of my clients swore it had changed their lives.

I believe you can do it online but you might find it valuable to do it in-person so you have exposure to other people who are in similar situations and can share and relate.

I just want to hug you. You will be fine. He's dragging you down. You are worth so so much more than this.

Agree if possible doing in person is great, I did it in person and the peer support is so important, did it more than once, in fact, just kept along going . All ages of women, many ethnic groups, many backgrounds, some were professional well off women, and from jobs where you'd not imagine they would be vulnerable, eg the police, it's not you, it's them. @Random100 do consider doing it.
Learned so much from it. How you get sucked in, because if they started off horrible you'd not be taken in, how often they start off love bombing, getting you hooked, getting you to feel sorry for them, how they cut you off from friends and family, the effects on any children, and how actually pregnancy and childbirth are often times when it starts even if things had seemed ok before, how important safety is when planning to leave as again abuse ramps up at those times. Some of the stories some of the women told will stay with me, they were that bad, but also women recognised that bad as physical abuse was, often the non physical stuff was as bad if not worse, which many do not understand ' 'but he never hit you' sort of stuff. You can show a bruise or a broken bone to the police or a doctor but not a broken spirit
with OP spoiling special events, stopping you from going to see friends, family, to events are part of abuse, or if he has to go along too, he will spoil it for you, and take it out on you that he has to go, they spoil holidays, it#'s a way to control you, they hate the spotlight being on someone else They know you want to go and being an arse about you going is a way of abusing and controlling
If you could sit in on a course I'm sure you'd find it really helpful. What I found really helpful going along more than once was to be able to see deeper into gradations of abuse. Someone once asked me did he stop me wearing certain clothing he didn't like, [ think she had been on a course to identify abusive behaviour] and I said no, but when I came to think about it, he may not have said you're not wearing that, but he would make fun of some of my clothing choices, for example, being told others will think I'm dressing wrongly, and to avoid being made to feel bad about what I'm wearing then for sure that did stop me wearing things. The disapproved of clothing was never anything extreme, no one else would have noticed anything untoward about it. Maybe an extra thing to ask would be something along the lines of did he ever comment unfavourably about your clothes, so you changed how you dressed
The threatening to do themselves in is also a way of controlling you, it gets them attention, if they go out and say I'm going to do x,y,z they are making sure you are thinking about them all the time, can't relax, can't go out, if you did that you'd be so uncaring. Looking back I should have asked for police help, he's gone out and is threatening to jump in front of a train. So many of the freedom women had experienced the abusers threatening to kill themselves.

I'm not in that long term relationship any more. If I ever experience anything like that again from anyone I know much better. Even if the threat is genuine, seeking help on their behalf could get the person the help they need, because people do actually go ahead with it.

AstralSpace · 08/05/2024 12:38

I agree with the pp that suggested leaving your belongings with your friend for a while and definite check for tags. It might be a ploy to find out where you're staying.
Probably over the top but who knows what goes through the kinds of deranged minds in a mission.

FangsForTheMemory · 08/05/2024 12:39

You've done everything right on this, OP.

PossumintheHouse · 08/05/2024 12:52

OP, every post of yours on this thread has been more and more jaw-dropping. This guy is an utterly mental piece of scum. I'm so glad you've got out of this, never communicate with him again. That 90 quid was the best money you have ever spent. And the holiday.

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