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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

Domestic violence after my infidelity

141 replies

TheApparition · 18/02/2025 17:10

I know I’m likely to get some judgement here and I accept that. I really am just looking for advice or support as feeling very low and overwhelmed.
DH and I have a 17 year age gap and got together when I was 21. We have two teens, DS18 and DD15.

Things have been difficult in our marriage for a while, much was due to our DD15 having to move schools after her first boyfriend assaulted her and harassed her. I found it difficult as I had witnessed DV as a child and also experienced it in my first relationship as a teen. Trying to help DD was one of the worst things I’ve been through and DD felt DH didn’t support her/us.

DH was also quite abusive to me in the early days of our relationship, awful name calling when I was pregnant and only 23, making me sleep on the sofa when I was overdue etc. I put this to one side as he made efforts to change and really seemed like he had. But the way he put his head in the sand over what DD was going through reminded me of the behaviour.

Last summer my estranged dad died, which was tough for me and I started becoming closer with a work colleague my own age and completely fell for him, I do regret this and it was awful thing to do when married. I tried to leave my husband in September but he smashed the TV, threw pizza and wine and called me all the names under the sun for 48 hours. I ended up fleeing to a hotel with DD.
This all caused my son to stop speaking to me so after a stint of me living in an Airbnb I came back home and tried to work on my marriage. We got marriage counselling and I have my own counselling. DH took 4 months off work with stress and started antidepressants.

However the outbursts from DH have continued, he took no notice of anything the marriage counsellor said. Everything culminated in him going through my phone on Sunday night while I was asleep after wine. He woke me up and started to be abusive, calling me worthless, I was trying to grab my phone as he held it away, eventually got it, grabbed my charger, put my shoes on and ran to the front door.

He then pushed me from behind so I fell face first onto laminate floor and gave me two loose teeth and a bump on the head, I fled and called 999 and he was arrested.

on Sunday I attended an emergency dentist and have had to have my teeth repositioned and splinted (brace like thing across my front 6 teeth) which has cost £3.5k and there will likely be more costs if I need root canal.

I did not press charges and let him stay at the family home, I am currently sofa surfing. The police told me that DH claimed he acted in self defence as I was ‘attacking him’ and he tapped me lightly to get me away. The police don’t really believe it though as the injury is so bad to my face and head, I was clearly pushed from behind. DH cannot contact me as part of his bail conditions and they appointed our DS18 as the liaison person between us to discuss care of DD and finances, but DS will not speak to me and has had a row with DD and told DD that the assault was justified.

I don’t know what to do if I need to liaise with DH because our son is clearly not the person for this role. The police haven’t called me back when I asked them about this.

DD has heard DH say that he hopes I hang myself in a hotel room but she is too scared to come and stay with me because it will look like she is taking sides. DS is very much on DH’s ‘side’ and believes him. I wish DD could be with me but she won’t.

my workplace have been good and given me the week off work but I am so overwhelmed. I don’t really have family, I’m an only child. I am sorry this was long but I needed to get it out.

Also, so I don’t drip feed, DH left his ex in the past for someone else, she is the mother of his other kids. She was pregnant too and as a result two of the kids don’t see him, so he does know what it’s like to fall for someone else. He hasn’t been a saint or anything when it comes to fidelity.

OP posts:
Errors · 18/02/2025 17:16

No judgement from me. We all make mistakes, and it sounds like you both agreed to work on the marriage afterwards. Your DHs behaviour however is disgusting. I wish I could give more practical advice but I just wanted to say that you don’t deserve this

Nap1983 · 18/02/2025 17:20

He sounds horrendous and is a Cu*t for hitting you. but a lot of that sounded like you trying to justify your cheating. Your marriage is a shit show… get divorced!

TheApparition · 18/02/2025 17:20

Thank you. I did try to leave in September but the upset it caused was so great, I’m not good at conflict and was terrified my kids exams would be affected and I would lose my son.
I felt it was just easier to stay. And now it’s come to this.

OP posts:
27Maisie27 · 18/02/2025 17:21

Your infidelity is understandable, given that your husband is an absolute pig of a man. Don't allow your son to be the family spokesperson, that's not going to work. I know you say you have no family, but what about friends? Lean on everyone you know who cares about you, because you are going to need a lot of real life support. I would speak to the DV police support team, and ask for their help as well.

MagicalMystical · 18/02/2025 17:23

No judgement from me at all. Google domestic abuse charities as there are many great sources of support up and down the country and calling one local to you would be best.

Your son is wrong that the assault was justified; there is no such thing. Please contact your local women’s domestic abuse charity to get good advice, information and support for yourself and your daughter.

Idontjetwashthefucker · 18/02/2025 17:23

Nap1983 · 18/02/2025 17:20

He sounds horrendous and is a Cu*t for hitting you. but a lot of that sounded like you trying to justify your cheating. Your marriage is a shit show… get divorced!

Did I really just read that?

Soontobe60 · 18/02/2025 17:25

You need to make sure the police throw the book at him! He’s an absolute bastard, and you and your DC deserve far better than him.
Honestly, file for divorce asap.

Soontobe60 · 18/02/2025 17:25

Nap1983 · 18/02/2025 17:20

He sounds horrendous and is a Cu*t for hitting you. but a lot of that sounded like you trying to justify your cheating. Your marriage is a shit show… get divorced!

Eh? You think attacking the OP was justified because she had an affair? Utterly bonkers!

TheApparition · 18/02/2025 17:27

I feel terrible about the cheating and as a result I have not pressed charges and have let him stay in the house while I live out of a bag with a swollen face. He also told me he would be going for 60% of assets due to his age being nearly 59 (I’m 41) and I will give him what he wants financially if it means my son might forgive me. When I saw a solicitor back in September they said he had a good case for that.

OP posts:
CanOfMangoTango · 18/02/2025 17:29

No judgement. But I expect your DS feels like the behaviour is justified because he's seen how his dad acts towards you and has normalised it.

I really think you should consider making a statement to police.

Your DH is an abuser and it's not right that you are injured and homeless as a result.

Your DH frightens your DD. Pretending this isn't happening won't make it go away.

Quitelikeit · 18/02/2025 17:30

This man is highly abusive and dangerous- also an example of what growing up in an abusive housed does to a child

Your son is possibly going to be a risk to women in the future and your dd is possibly vulnerable to abusive men

Please do not return, go to the council, go to a women’s shelter, go anywhere but back there

And do it safely, make a claim for benefits, look at rooms to rent online - contact your local homeless team today

stay safe, don’t tell him or the kids where you are

im not surprised you found solace with another man

I guarantee when your head is clear you will look back and realise he was emotionally abusive throughout your time together

orangesonatree · 18/02/2025 17:32

Stop the guilt NOW. Your story resonates with me a lot, so many details within it. If you continue acc ting out of feeling guilty you will regret it for years to come. Your H is an abusive, horribleness manipulative man and you should have zero reservations about focusing on protecting yourself. Firstly get back into the house and press charges if you still can. You need a good solicitor and an even better therapist to see things for what they are. I repeat, forget about the guilt. PM me if you want to talk.

LazyStupidandGodless · 18/02/2025 17:33

I am so sorry that you're in this awful situation and that you feel so alone - please don't apologise for anything. Getting it out and speaking up is so necessary.
As some previous posts have suggested - do reach out and get support.
There is some brilliant advice out there for you - sadly DV is quite prevalent and particularly acute.
Do check out these brilliant guides on the 'Rights of Women' website.

RaspberryBeretxx · 18/02/2025 17:34

I don't blame you for cheating, he sounds an abusive arsehole (and I've been cheated on - in different circumstances - FWIW). I wonder how much he really changed after the abusive behaviour during your pregnancy and how much was you walking on eggshells and him feeling he had control so didn't need to be actively abusive. I absolutely wouldn't go back to him but if a solicitor thinks he'd get 60% then could you just agree to that for a cleaner break and start your life over? Would 40% give you the option to buy a house etc? Give your DC time, they will come round particularly DD, are you able to contact her directly? Can you get help through women's aid or similar? I'm so sorry you've been through this, abuse is never justified.

TheApparition · 18/02/2025 17:36

Thank you for the support. Yes I am worried about the effect on the kids, I already speak in counselling about how I have such a fear of losing my kids (particularly DS) this stems from estrangements/not having any family and it has even affected my ability to parent them I believe, because I don’t dare upset them in case they never speak to me. And now I’ve done this and hurt my son, yes I am absolutely wracked with guilt.

OP posts:
Mrsgreen100 · 18/02/2025 17:36

You need to press charges, I didn’t and so regret it , there’s only a 6 month window!
get free of this guy

orangesonatree · 18/02/2025 17:38

OP forget the guilt. He made your life hell and preyed on your vulnerabilities and continues to do so. He tapped you? What a pathetic excuse of a man. Find your anger. Fight for yourself!

Quitelikeit · 18/02/2025 17:38

No you haven’t hurt your son

Your husband has and your son is terrified of his father so he tries to appease him and gain his approval

His father is a nasty bully

He deserved to get cheated on I hope his neck shits a pineapple or worse

Your kids know he’s awful

mathanxiety · 18/02/2025 17:38

Infidelity is not a crime, but domestic violence is.

Please change your mind and press charges.
This has gone way beyond your control now.
Try to understand that you didn't cause your H to choose the path of physical violence. That's on him.
Nothing you do will change or have any effect on your H's viciousness.

Get a solicitor.

Call Women's Aid
0808 2000 247

Quitelikeit · 18/02/2025 17:38

And yes yes yes to pressing charges

please

TheApparition · 18/02/2025 17:39

Yes I am in contact with DD, she is very upset and has screamed at DH. That he wouldn’t even speak to the boy that bullied her because he was too chicken yet he nearly knocked my teeth out.
Also when he smashed the downstairs TV he went and took DDs TV to replace it and still hasn’t replaced hers after 5 months.
I desperately want her with me

OP posts:
Redfred00 · 18/02/2025 17:39

Press charges. He assaulted you. Your relationship with your son isn't going to get better while he's whispering poison in his ear. Not pressing charges suggest that he didn't do anything wrong. It also suggests that it's okay to be violent to people. I don't care what you did in the past that doesn't justify him abusing you or assaulting you.

Stripeyanddotty · 18/02/2025 17:39

It’s the CPS who decide to prosecute, not the op pressing charges.

orangesonatree · 18/02/2025 17:40

The criminal court case and that alone might make him change enough to make the rest of your life bearable. Please listen to those of us who have been there.

orangesonatree · 18/02/2025 17:41

Stripeyanddotty · 18/02/2025 17:39

It’s the CPS who decide to prosecute, not the op pressing charges.

Without her statement they will drop the case.

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