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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

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:
HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf · 14/07/2024 20:50

Can you speak to your worker about The Freedom Porgramme? I think it will really help you break free of this hold he has on you.

BirthdayRainbow · 14/07/2024 20:53

Pinkflowersxo · 14/07/2024 20:20

Honestly I desperate need this. I think now I’ve gone this far I will need counselling for sure something is very broken inside of me. I’m doing the actions to break away but battle with my feelings inside.

You've taken this very graciously. I know how hard it can be but I am wondering why you feel as you do. I stopped loving my STBEH when he SAID something so struggle to see why you love the man who nearly left your child without a mother.

Daleksatemyshed · 14/07/2024 21:10

It's a bit blunt of me @Pinkflowersxo but if you ever feel sorry for him just remember that when he strangled you, he could have killed you. Your DC would have held the trauma of losing you all their childhoods and good knows who would have been a decent Mother figure to them, not your MIL who makes excuses for her violent, useless son. I know women always love their children but I'm always disgusted by people like your MIL who can't open their eyes and see their sons for who they really are.

WrylyAmused · 14/07/2024 23:53

You had another thread on this. All the advice is the same.

No, he hasn't changed. No, it won't be different.

Stick to your guns, get him prosecuted and jailed fully for what he did, and move on with your life, first of all by yourself with strong boundaries, and in time, when you've healed and feel ready, with another, non-abusive partner. This one will never be worth anything, no matter what he says or how convincing he sounds at the time.

Tv23456 · 15/07/2024 04:03

OP, losing a mother is just so dreadful.
Really painful and a loss that is never filled, even with loving kind fathers doing their best.
Losing a mother to a violent murder by your father is the very worst.
Your ex is the lowest scum.
If you had died your child would be left with who?....SS

Can you imagine THAT. You dead, murdered, your scum ex in prison for life, and your children in care?.

This IS often the horrific reality for children whose mothers are murdered by scummy partners.

Ask yourself how you could love anyone who would cause such utter devastation for your children?

He is in prison with other scum and probably also has a lawyer telling him how a letter from you to the judge would help.
Scum advising scum.

The big nasty bully is now terrified of the consequences of his actions.
Hopefully he will be put away for a good stretch and have a miserable time.

You are doing great. Well done telling the police of his contact.

Pinkflowersxo · 15/07/2024 10:59

Tv23456 · 15/07/2024 04:03

OP, losing a mother is just so dreadful.
Really painful and a loss that is never filled, even with loving kind fathers doing their best.
Losing a mother to a violent murder by your father is the very worst.
Your ex is the lowest scum.
If you had died your child would be left with who?....SS

Can you imagine THAT. You dead, murdered, your scum ex in prison for life, and your children in care?.

This IS often the horrific reality for children whose mothers are murdered by scummy partners.

Ask yourself how you could love anyone who would cause such utter devastation for your children?

He is in prison with other scum and probably also has a lawyer telling him how a letter from you to the judge would help.
Scum advising scum.

The big nasty bully is now terrified of the consequences of his actions.
Hopefully he will be put away for a good stretch and have a miserable time.

You are doing great. Well done telling the police of his contact.

Thank you so much. These points are what I am reminding myself of as I am feeling guilt like I am now. The police have informed the CPS of him trying to contact me from prison putting pressure on me to retract & lessen his sentence. Turns out he had my number down under another name so that’s how he was able to call. I’ve got a new number now so that should be the end of it all. I think they are reslly surprised at his boldness to not only breach his bail conditions by speaking to me but be remanded for it and still continue to contact me from even jail. Just shows he thinks he can do whatever he wants x

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 15/07/2024 11:02

Just shows he thinks he can do whatever he wants

Yes, and it's horrifying that he succeeded in pulling the wool over the prison authorities' eyes.

At least you've been able to show him up for what he is, this time.

Well done! You're getting there.

Pinkflowersxo · 15/07/2024 11:29

TheShellBeach · 14/07/2024 20:43

My first husband was very violent, OP.
I remember when he was in court, feeling sorry for him.

It's hard to switch off feelings, even when they've literally tried to end your life, or raped you.
But you must. Your daughters need you to stay strong.

Im really sorry you went through that 😓 it’s horrible to think these men are just walking through society. I feel a lot stronger now and glad I reported him x

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 16/07/2024 19:23

How are you getting on, @Pinkflowersxo?

It must be peaceful not having his phone calls.

Pinkflowersxo · 16/07/2024 23:13

TheShellBeach · 16/07/2024 19:23

How are you getting on, @Pinkflowersxo?

It must be peaceful not having his phone calls.

Thank you so much for checking in on me. Honestly peaceful & I feel like I can start to go forward now that he has no way to contact with me. He has court to give his plea on the 8th of August I will update in here the outcome of that but appreciate your support so much x

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 16/08/2024 18:58

Hope you're still all right @Pinkflowersxo

Pinkflowersxo · 16/08/2024 21:29

TheShellBeach · 16/08/2024 18:58

Hope you're still all right @Pinkflowersxo

Hey ! Thank you for checking in on me. So ex has tried to ask his solicitor to ask the police to ask ne if I would allow him to get 4 counts of assault down from ABH to common assault
.. he would plead guilty to that I said no. So he has to put in his plea Tuesday. Otherwise he is facing trial December ,

How I am is so much better. I read the book as recommend in this thread why does he do that and I am doing the freedom course and I realise just how bad things were. I am starting to heal and I haven't looked back honestly.

His mum has gone around telling his friends it's not true which hurt but I am not rising to anything.

I honestly feel so free. I sing louder I dance with my children. I feel like I am getting my life back.

I won't lie every time I get an update from the police it makes me feel anxious the not knowing..

I have also met somebody really kind caring and sweet. He knows all that I have been through we are just friends for now with no pressures of anything as he understands that I need to be by myself but he has become a brilliant friend who makes me laugh.

I want to thank you and everyone else again who commented in this thread for your support. I will post an update when he is sentenced xxxx

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 16/08/2024 22:08

I am SO HAPPY to read that update!!

Fannyfiggs · 17/08/2024 09:25

I'm so pleased you're feeling much better 🥰

And it's great that your friend is giving you the space to be on your own and figure out who you are and what you want before even thinking about another relationship.

Your kids must be loving life too now they have their lovely, funny, cheery mum back.

Great news all round ❤️

WearyAuldWumman · 17/08/2024 14:36

Thank you so much for the update. You’re a wonderful woman.

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