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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:
Pinkflowersxo · 14/07/2024 13:53

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.

Thank you this is something I realise. I don’t think he has it in him to truly be sorry and make the changes otherwise surely when all these things happened and he saw how it affected me and our toddlers at the time that would have triggered the change. Not jail which only affects him. Xxx

OP posts:
Pinkflowersxo · 14/07/2024 13:54

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

thank you so much for your support 🤍 I realise this now for sure he is just trying to cushion the blow for the consequences of his actions x

OP posts:
Pinkflowersxo · 14/07/2024 13:56

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!

I hadn’t heard it until you mentioned it ! Love it ! 🤍

OP posts:
avarteayaya · 14/07/2024 13:57

You are doing so well.

Block the calls.

It isn't genuine, he's trying to save his own arse.

IncompleteSenten · 14/07/2024 13:58

He's sorry his actions finally have consequences for him.
That's all

Pinkflowersxo · 14/07/2024 14:00

IncompleteSenten · 14/07/2024 13:58

He's sorry his actions finally have consequences for him.
That's all

Thank you I realise this now. I will speak to victim support and tell them he’s still been trying to contact me x

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 14/07/2024 14:01

OP seriously......... stop starting threads about how guilty you're feeling.

He tried to kill you in front of your children.

Don't let him get into your head. STOP ANSWERING YOUR PHONE TO HIM.

You've started so many threads about this awful violent POS. All of them say the same thing.

Block him. Keep him blocked.

Report him to the police for breaching his restraining order. He isn't allowed to contact you FFS. You know that. You say on all your threads that you've finally understood that you need to keep him blocked, but then you start another one about what he's just said to you!

STOP ENGAGING WITH THE MAN WHO TRIED TO MURDER YOU AND WHO ASSAULTED YOU COUNTLESS TIMES

And do not engage with his solicitors.

TheShellBeach · 14/07/2024 14:03

Pinkflowersxo · 14/07/2024 14:00

Thank you I realise this now. I will speak to victim support and tell them he’s still been trying to contact me x

You're always saying you realise what you need to do, then off we go again.

TheShellBeach · 14/07/2024 14:03

Pinkflowersxo · 14/07/2024 14:00

Thank you I realise this now. I will speak to victim support and tell them he’s still been trying to contact me x

Don't answer!!!!!!!

perfectcolourfound · 14/07/2024 14:03

Well done on putting you and your children first, and not the abusive, nasty man.

Of course he isn't sorry. He had lots of time to be sorry in the months and years before you reported him. Did he make efforts to change then? No he didn't. Because being abusive is who he is. If he'd wanted to change he's had many chances to do that.

(And besides, what sort of person needs counselling in order to not be abusive??)

He's saying the 'right' things now to save himself jail time. That's the only reason. If you fell for his words, he wouldn't keep to his promises. As soon as he was clear of jail he'd go back to being abusive.

Tell the truth. This man has put himself above you and your children for a long time. Why should you put him first now, and tell lies on his behalf, to benefit him?

You and the children will doubtless be better off with him behind bars.

Keep reminding yourself - he's abusive, he only cares about himself, he's lying, he hasn't changed.

Bumblebeestiltskin · 14/07/2024 14:04

Is he even allowed to be contacting you?? Please block and report him.

verdantverdure · 14/07/2024 14:05

He's trying to manipulate you. This is a continuation of the abuse.

I hope you've got good support @Pinkflowersxo and I'm so sorry this is happening to you.

TheShellBeach · 14/07/2024 14:05

Bumblebeestiltskin · 14/07/2024 14:04

Is he even allowed to be contacting you?? Please block and report him.

He's not. But she answers the phone anyway.

Pinkflowersxo · 14/07/2024 14:05

TheShellBeach · 14/07/2024 14:03

You're always saying you realise what you need to do, then off we go again.

I know it’s the harsh truth. Why I was in the relationship for 9 years I really am trying. He is in jail and calling me from other numbers something inside feels guilty and I can’t really explain that it’s only when I come on here and see so many people telling me that i am not wrong where I find the strength. Might not be as easy for me as it is for other women but I am trying

OP posts:
skyeisthelimit · 14/07/2024 14:07

Well done for continuing to post here to get support.

You know in your heart that this isn't genuine. He is trying to manipulate you so that he gets away with as little time/punishment as possible. Do not retract your statement. Log it with the police that he is asking you to do so. Tell your solicitor.

Tell the police that he is contacting you and breaching the restraining order.

If he was really sorry he would have sought help a long time ago.

Stay strong.

leeverarch · 14/07/2024 14:09

a part of me feels guilty for putting him in jail

He is a violent, abusive criminal and you are his victim. The law is on your side and the law has decided that what he did to you is so bad that he has to be locked up.

You are his victim.

You are not responsible for putting him in prison. He did that all by himself, and there is nothing for you to feel guilty about.

AtrociousCircumstance · 14/07/2024 14:10

He’s pressurising you to save his own arse, manipulating your weaknesses for his own gain. He doesn’t love you, or care about you or your child, it’s all lies. Please wake up. Keep going with the conviction.

To retract this in any way would be hugely irresponsible - to your child, and yourself.

FajitasForDinner · 14/07/2024 14:17

Well done for reporting him and sticking to it!

He isn't sorry and he doesn't mean any of it. He's just trying to manipulate you into either retracting your statement, dropping the charges or in some way getting him to have less jail time. He fucked about and now he's finding out! He's shitting himself because he now has to face the consequences of his actions.

For the sake of you child, please please please stop talking to him and DO NOT let him get away with it. This is going to sound harsh and I'm sorry in advance, but if you let him get away with it in any way, you are showing your child that this is acceptable behaviour and it may mean that if they are ever in this kind of relationship (God forbid) they will stay with their partner instead of walking away.

You have been so brave and been so strong so far. Please don't let him manipulate you any further ❤️

Pinkflowersxo · 14/07/2024 14:17

I know this must be really frustrating to look at but I am just coming here for support. I did say at the start of my post I am not retracting. I told him this. I still love him I left him 5 months ago and started to realise how bad it was which was why I reported when I did. He is facing strangulation and 4 counts of ABH charges. Something inside always worries what if this was finally going to be the thing that pushed him to change and I don’t trust my own thoughts. Inside I believe if he was capable of change he would have done it years ago and he never did. It’s as if I don’t trust my own thoughts so when I come here it honestly does help me so much and give me that validation. I understand it’s stupid I have answered the calls. I know he’s manipulating me into dropping the charges and I am reporting this now. I can only explain it as a hold he must have over me but I am so sure now that what I thought inside is the truth he’s not sorry and it’s not genuine. I am changing my number today he won’t be able to contact me anymore or his mum thank you again for the messages of support x

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 14/07/2024 14:17

The prison can stop him having phone calls if you let the police know he keeps calling you.

Pinkflowersxo · 14/07/2024 14:17

TheShellBeach · 14/07/2024 14:17

The prison can stop him having phone calls if you let the police know he keeps calling you.

I honestly am doing this now. Thank you

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 14/07/2024 14:19

I still love him

Oh OP he's not worthy of your love.

You nearly died at his hands.

TheShellBeach · 14/07/2024 14:21

Pinkflowersxo · 14/07/2024 14:17

I honestly am doing this now. Thank you

That's good. Well done.
You're doing your best, I know.

What would you say to your daughters if they were in this mess?

Babbahabba · 14/07/2024 14:23

Sometimes someone does something so bad that it doesn't even matter if they're truly sorry or take accountability, you HAVE to cut them out of yours and your children's lives, for your physical and emotional wellbeing.

Cut him out of yours and your children's lives. Zero contact. If he makes a play for contact in the future, let him take you to court.

He's still controlling you and he's still trying to manipulate you and get inside your head. He could kill you next time. There are no positive reasons for maintaining any contact with him and potentially very grave consequences if you do.

Suzieandthemonkeyfeet · 14/07/2024 14:25

OP - my friends boyfriend stabbed her in the neck. He was remanded in custody awaiting that trial. He started to say he was sorry and they both decided to give it another go - this was written in letters between them. My friend was completely co dependant on him and didn’t realise that her head was totally fucked.

He gave the letters to his barraster and he received a pathetic sentence for attempt murder.

He then got out. My friend had received councilling by this point and it had finished.

I seen his face pop up on the local police Facebook site. He was wanted for putting his new girlfriend in hospital.

They never ever change.

Stop feeding thrill of the drama you will be now addicted to because you may end up losing your kids over this man