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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

Is he genuinely sorry or avoiding accountability?

115 replies

Pinkflowersxo · 13/07/2024 22:20

I am coming for opinions since my judgement after being in a physical/ emotionally abusive relationship has really desensitised my concept of what is real and what isn’t.

to give some context about my ex if you have the time here’s is a thread I made last week after reporting my ex for the abuse I was subjected to over the last 6 years.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/relationships/5108086-am-i-bad-for-pressing-charges-on-my-abuser-childs-father?page=6&reply=136613161

for anyone who doesn’t want to read that my ex was very abusive, strangled me infront of our 2 year old , had attacked me whilst holding our toddlers and uploaded a video of me having sex last year (my face wasn’t in it) Onto fab swingingers.com without my consent or knowledge that he was even on there.

last week I reported him , he has been charged and remanded to prison. I did this because I wanted to make sure the courts knew the truth if the abuse me and my children were subjected to incase something happened to me as I kept this a secret from my family / friends. it took 5 months of leaving him to realise just how bad it was what I went through all those years.

I want to start by saying I am not retracting my statement. I am not taking him back. I am coming here for reassurance of what I feel inside but he is so convincing.

he is looking at jail time now and he’s telling me how sorry he is. How he was planning to do right by me and our kids anyway. The 5 months I left him gave him time to realise where he went wrong. He’s been relaying back almost everything I ever told him about the issues of our relationship with his words he seems like he’d taking full accountability . He’s saying it was never my fault. He’s admitting he had a problem. He’s admitting he was selfish and was putting other things before his family (cause of all our arguments.) something he never usually does. He is also saying he is willing to do counselling and anger Managent now. Something again he was never willing to do as he would say he doesn’t need it. Now he’s willing to do it…. However

initially he hinted about me retracting my statement. Promising he’ll do all the counselling to make it up to me and our children. I said no. This reslly happened to me. I will not now lie and say it didn’t

this is where it becomes fuzzy for me. Initially he wanted to go on the run and said he would do counselling and courses to prove to me that he’s changed so I would give him another chance. I told him no way , I would never visit him with our kids or Any of it if he did this. So he turned himself in.

now He is asking me if I will write a letter to the judge saying that I don’t want him in jail. That I would be happy for him to rehabilitate. By doing courses and anger management. My honest initial reaction was that this isn’t taking full accountability is it ? But then he would say if he’s out of jail he can spend more time with me and our kids and prove and show with his actions how he has changed and he will do all the counselling I want.

he also was suggesting that his solicitor could take one of the charges from ABH to common assault. So that he could get less time. Also a solicitor could explain why he did what he did to me (makeup a reason for why he did that at the time ) when I know inside there were no factors that made it ok for him to treat me like that. He would constantly leave me with our young children and then when I’d confront him he would get physical. I side I feel like he’d not taking full accountability. Inside I feel if you were reslly sorry wouldn’t you want to take the full responsibility for what you did ? To prove that you are taking it very seriously.

he swears he means it that he’s sorry. But I’ve noticed that he is putting more and more pressure on me to ask the judge to not put him in jail. But this doesn’t feel right to me. What I went through was the truth this reslly happened to me. I still have flash backs now.

I know some of you will look at this and think how stupid can you be. But these messages really do help me.

a part of me feels guilty for putting him in jail. But when he calls I feel sick because I know he’s going to make me feel bad. He told me he understands I want pay back but this is not the way. How he can prove he’s changed by not being in jail. He says he wants to do as little time as he can. He doesn’t want this on his record. He doesn’t want to get beat up for being a wife beater. Telling me how bad it will be in there for him.

could it be that facing jail has made him realise the extent of what he’s done and want to change ? I also wonder if abusing me I front of our screaming 2 year old didn’t make you want to change this cannot be genuine.

please be easy on me I am really going through it emotionally right now but feeling stronger now I’ve reported him. I still love him but I am trying to make the right choices for our children. I wish we could have been together as a family but I worry that he’s not taking full ownership for what he’s done and I worry that the “change” is not genuine.

thsnk you in advance x

OP posts:
ILoveNigelTufnel · 13/07/2024 22:30

The change is not genuine - he’s a thoroughly nasty piece of work.

Very, very well done on reporting him and making your statement. Keep being brave and standing up to him. You deserve so much better. He is lying and it’s really obvious.

ILoveNigelTufnel · 13/07/2024 22:32

Sorry - pressed send too quickly.

And you are bloody brilliant - what an excellent mum you are keeping your children and yourself safe.

Itstherichthatgetthepleasureasusual · 13/07/2024 22:39

I think OP he is almost certainly trying to manipulate you to lessen the consequences to himself. I do not think he is genuinely sorry.
You have been so brave. Please continue to tell the truth of what happened, of what you experienced. Because you deserve justice.

ChocoChocoLatte · 13/07/2024 22:57

Read that back as if it was your daughter asking you.........

No no no no no.

QuackQuackFuckThat · 13/07/2024 23:12

Why are you even engaging with him? Just let the courts decide.

CrunchyCarrot · 13/07/2024 23:15

He's not sorry, has never been! It's all a way to manipulate you to get what he wants - no jail time!

Well done on getting this far, don't fall at the last hurdle, he is lying to you.

DeliciousApples · 13/07/2024 23:26

Good for you for staying strong thus far. Just keep it up. Let the law deal with him impartially based on his actions.

He's still the same bastard he's always been. Once again he's trying to make you do what he wants to get the result that best suits him. It's all about him.

I'd suggest you take a step back and keep out if it if at all possible.

He will promise you the earth moon and sun. You will get none of these things once he's out.
His promises are meaningless.
His fear of jail is real.
However it's the best place for him as he's a bastard and they will retrain him by forcing him to look at his actions and maybe it will stick.
Or Maybe he will just nod his head at the appropriate juncture and cry a few crocodile tears and still be a prick.

At least you want have to look at him when he's in the nic. You will if he's free as he'll wheedle his way back into your life.

Pinkflowersxo · 13/07/2024 23:37

ILoveNigelTufnel · 13/07/2024 22:32

Sorry - pressed send too quickly.

And you are bloody brilliant - what an excellent mum you are keeping your children and yourself safe.

Thank you so much x

OP posts:
Pinkflowersxo · 13/07/2024 23:37

CrunchyCarrot · 13/07/2024 23:15

He's not sorry, has never been! It's all a way to manipulate you to get what he wants - no jail time!

Well done on getting this far, don't fall at the last hurdle, he is lying to you.

Thank you this is what I felt deep down inside 😓x

OP posts:
Pinkflowersxo · 13/07/2024 23:39

ILoveNigelTufnel · 13/07/2024 22:30

The change is not genuine - he’s a thoroughly nasty piece of work.

Very, very well done on reporting him and making your statement. Keep being brave and standing up to him. You deserve so much better. He is lying and it’s really obvious.

Thank you so much. He’s so convincing saying so you think I would promise all this then come out and do nothing. Unbelievable how I almost believe it. Something inside wonders what if this was the shock he needed. But taking responsibility would just be doing the time wouldn’t it xx

OP posts:
Rhaidimiddim · 13/07/2024 23:43

I read your previous post. I did not read this one.

He needs to be held accountable for what he did.

BreaktheCycle · 13/07/2024 23:44

Well done for reporting him 💐 I wish my Mum had done that.

He’s lying and is just trying to save his arse from a criminal record and from getting beaten up in prison. He’s trying to avoid accountability and his karma. He and it is no longer your problem.

Do not accept any more phone-calls from him. Block him and move on with your life.

Discotrousers · 13/07/2024 23:47

My god he's twisting now isn't he?! He's trying absolutely anything he can not to take accountability OP, don't be fooled, this is all for his own benefit. If he really wanted to show you he was sorry and ready to change he would take his punishment from the court like a grown up, instead he just wants you to help him wriggle out of it. Honestly the fucking cheek of him! Well done for coming back here so we can help you withstand the manipulation, he's not reckoning on your MN support group is he Grin

cestlavielife · 13/07/2024 23:49

No no no
Do not take any messages from him
He needs to do his time and truly change

Discotrousers · 13/07/2024 23:51

Have you ever heard the Taylor Swift song 'You're not sorry' OP? Every time you wobble you need to blast that song full volume, use it like a mantra!

HangingOnJustAbout · 13/07/2024 23:51

Well done for finding the strength to do that.

Violence always escalates, his next girlfriend could be killed. You have possibly protected several women by doing this.

He is sorry he is facing the consequences, not sorry he did it.

Best of luck in life to you.

Julyshouldbesunny · 13/07/2024 23:54

His speech will be one given to him by his legal team to keep him out of jail.... You bloody rock op.
You have made your dd proud.. When she is old enough to understand why her df is on jail she will love you even more for keeping her safe.

Zeroperspective · 14/07/2024 00:25

YOU did not put him in jail, HIS actions put him in jail. Stop victim blaming it is NOT your fault.
Stop taking his calls, you don't have to listen to this bullshit. If he wants to speak to you then he can pass a message on via your solicitor.
Only you can decide what to do but you've come here to ask for others opinions so heres mine, it's bullshit, manipulative, emotional blackmail and he has not and will not change if you back down now and write to the judge/agree to lessen or drop the charges. You have been incredibly strong to leave him and to get this far, please do not let him drag you back down

MotherJessAndKittens · 14/07/2024 00:31

Well done for getting out of the situation. Be strong. He has not changed and is only thinking of himself not you or his children. You have been very brave and concentrate on how much better it will be for you and your family without him. X

CuriousGeorge80 · 14/07/2024 00:34

OP, I think if he had it in him to be sorry, he would have been a long time ago. There is no reason why the police finally being involved and taking action would make him actually sorry. It’s just made him want to avoid the consequences. He’s a piece of shit. Was and still is.

Well done on being so brave.

HereForTheFreeLunch · 14/07/2024 00:43

Doesn't he have a restraining order or something similar?
How is he still phoning you?
Please block him and record every call with the police.

Once this cajoling doesn't work, he will turn to threats. He has not changed one bit. He's still the same scum bag who strangled you in front of your two year old. Never forget that!

Sickdissapointed · 14/07/2024 00:45

Keep walking away. Don’t look back. Keep you and your children safe. You have done the hardest bit. Keep going. Do not be taken in. Well done for being so strong. Huge love and strength.

Coconutter24 · 14/07/2024 00:55

I won’t lie I didn’t even read all that because I got bored of reading what he wants, what he’s asked for basically him him him. Sounds like he just wants a get out of jail card.

What do you want? Do you want him in prison, to face the consequences, a relationship, or just for him to not be in your life? Don’t listen to what he wants or is asking thing about what you want.

Catoo · 14/07/2024 01:03

As was the advice on the previous thread.
Stop talking to him. Don’t write letters advocating for a man who could have killed you. Go no contact and let the system deal with him. Imagine how frustrating police must find this when they collate evidence for a case and then the victim advocates for the perpetrator - against their own best interests.

Also ignore his DM and other flying monkeys.

No one on here is going to suggest he has changed. He hasn’t. He’s scared that in jail he’ll be the one being bullied. He’s used to it being the other way round.

Get your DC away from this lifestyle.

Pinkflowersxo · 14/07/2024 13:49

BreaktheCycle · 13/07/2024 23:44

Well done for reporting him 💐 I wish my Mum had done that.

He’s lying and is just trying to save his arse from a criminal record and from getting beaten up in prison. He’s trying to avoid accountability and his karma. He and it is no longer your problem.

Do not accept any more phone-calls from him. Block him and move on with your life.

Thank you ! That’s what it seems 😥 I’m going to get a new number today so that he cannot call me anymore xx

OP posts:
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