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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

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I need courage to leave, please help!

65 replies

PoisedRoseWasp · 03/07/2025 07:30

I've been with this man for 12 months. He's 10 years older than me, and lives over 100 miles away, so decided to move in with me within 3 weeks of dating (although we'd known each other for some time before this). He proposed within 5 months, and for the most part of the first few months, wasn't working intermittently and taking drugs heavily.

Weeks after proposing, I found out that he had shared explicit images of me, his ex girlfriend and his partner previous to that on a cuckold website, trying to get men he was talking to to compliment his partner. He claims this was all linked to cocaine, and that he would never touch drugs again, along with coming off all sites. I tried to leave him then; but he made me believe I meant more to him than this and he would leave it alone. Meanwhile, after conducting a Claire's Law search, I found that he had 3 accusations of domestic abuse against him, along with 1 allegation of sexual abuse.

I am so brainwashed and manipulated at this point, I believe him when tells me "oh, it must have been my ex-partner who set up another cuckold site, she knows my email address, it wasn't me, I'd never do that to you again". Or when he's sat in his van after work, and I can actively see him on the sites, he remind me that "I'd do anything for you, I love you more than anything, I'd be lost without you", and the cycle of me feeling sorry for him continues.

He was on cocaine so badly one night (not recently), that he had convinced himself I was having an affair whilst doing the food shop, he pinned me down to get my phone off me, ended up grabbing my arm and shoving me to the floor. In turn, this ignited a rage in me, I ended up pushing him up against the wall and telling him to get out.

He's also incredibly controlling; making things difficult to see my family and friends, always wanting me to be around and at home when he gets back from work, telling me how much he hates it when I'm not home.

Months on since the shared images, I find myself increasingly paranoid, up to my eyeballs in debt from the money he demands from me to be able to go to see his children, use my car, pay for days out, and probably, buy cocaine I imagine. The drug use has stopped, granted, for quite some time, maybe over 6 months. But the feeling in my head that this man CAN NOT be trusted won't go away.

My dilemma is; how on earth do I get this man out of my home, without the guilt setting in beforehand and me changing my mind? I don't have long; he wants me to move down the country to be closer to his children, and after last night seeing his credit report, I'm his best shot at making that happen. What steps can I take to prevent him being able to either manipulate me into changing my mind, or at worst, hurting me or threatening suicide if I leave him?

He has a key to my house, so I can't stop him coming back, and if I change the locks I'd be terrified he'd try to break in, or go mental in the street, which is embarrassing with the neighbours.

Any tips, advice or support you can give or if you've experienced this, I'd love to hear it.

OP posts:
Itchytoe · 03/07/2025 07:31

Please say you don’t have any children in this situation?

PoisedRoseWasp · 03/07/2025 07:35

Itchytoe · 03/07/2025 07:31

Please say you don’t have any children in this situation?

I have no children; 31 and live alone.

OP posts:
Itchytoe · 03/07/2025 07:36

Well sadly you don’t live alone op

PoisedRoseWasp · 03/07/2025 07:37

Itchytoe · 03/07/2025 07:36

Well sadly you don’t live alone op

Yes, sorry. He lives here. Until I can sort my shit out.

OP posts:
Itchytoe · 03/07/2025 07:38

Op this is so wrong on so many levels.

and you know that.

tell a friend or family member

do you work?

PoisedRoseWasp · 03/07/2025 07:39

Itchytoe · 03/07/2025 07:38

Op this is so wrong on so many levels.

and you know that.

tell a friend or family member

do you work?

I work, yes. From home.
I've told them; naturally they want nothing to do with him, isolating me even further, because he doesn't like me seeing them without him, and doesn't understand why they just don't forgive it and "move on".

OP posts:
PoisedRoseWasp · 03/07/2025 07:42

Itchytoe · 03/07/2025 07:38

Op this is so wrong on so many levels.

and you know that.

tell a friend or family member

do you work?

What bothers me is that I pride myself on being well-educated, intelligent, I get a fair bit of attention from other men (he hates that), so it's not as if I couldn't meet someone else. But for some reason, I see him as some sort of charity case; If I leave him, he'll have nothing, and that's all my fault. Why can't I separate my feelings from reality, that this man is so bad for me? He's thrown my central nervous system off so bad; I don't sleep anymore, I'm often suicidal, my thoughts are dark, trapped and sad all the time. I used to be such a happy person. My energy levels are so low, I often pass out. I lost 7 stone, and I'm comfortably wearing a size 12 (UK), he proceeds to talk about how good women look in a size 8, so what do I do? Starve myself. I'm so unwell.

OP posts:
Itchytoe · 03/07/2025 07:42

That isn’t the response of a loving family or friend op

what happened when you reported to police?

PoisedRoseWasp · 03/07/2025 07:44

Itchytoe · 03/07/2025 07:42

That isn’t the response of a loving family or friend op

what happened when you reported to police?

I was sat in a lay-by in my car, no trousers, hysterical. They took a statement, arrested him, and then were happy to drop him back at my house. Two officers came weeks later to do a welfare assessment, but he was in the house so I couldn't even answer honestly. The whole thing is a mess.

OP posts:
RunningJo · 03/07/2025 07:44

Do you have any friends or family that will support you, to be with you when you tell him he has to go? .
I would change the locks and get a ring doorbell. If he turns up at the door, call the police.

He is manipulating you OP. Please stay strong, you’re only 31 and wasting your life on someone who is vile. You deserve better. I hope you find the strength you need to tell him to leave. X

LoveFreshSheets · 03/07/2025 07:45

“Look Dave…. This isn’t working for me anymore. I’ve packed your stuff up and wish you well”.

Seriously, I’d like to know even half a good reason why you are with this absolute dick. GET RID!

PoisedRoseWasp · 03/07/2025 07:46

RunningJo · 03/07/2025 07:44

Do you have any friends or family that will support you, to be with you when you tell him he has to go? .
I would change the locks and get a ring doorbell. If he turns up at the door, call the police.

He is manipulating you OP. Please stay strong, you’re only 31 and wasting your life on someone who is vile. You deserve better. I hope you find the strength you need to tell him to leave. X

Edited

I can't tell him to leave; that's the problem. He screams, shouts, and causes me so much anxiety, threatens to kill himself, or becomes abusive. I don't feel safe enough to do this on my own, he makes me so nervous and anxious I'm physically unwell.

OP posts:
Itchytoe · 03/07/2025 07:46

I’d be reporting him to SS on the basis of what you say

Ahsheeit · 03/07/2025 07:46

The route for you here is to ask the police to remove him. He has nothing because he came with nothing, and any action against him is the result of his behaviour. It's his shame, not yours.

There are helpline numbers at the top, above your post. They'll give you good advice on the way forward and support you.

ChristmasFluff · 03/07/2025 07:48

Contact your friends/family again and tell them you want him out - they are usually out there just waiting for you to see what they see so clearly - he doesn't love you, and in fact despises you.

think of how much you would have to hate someone to treat them the way he treats you - would you do it to your worst enemy? I doubt it. His actions show how he feels.

Change the locks, put his stuff outside, get a friend to stay with you for moral support, and call the Police when he kicks off. It's not embarrassing for you, it's embarrassing for him.

Also, you can report him to the Police for posting those images online.

And I'm afraid it's a bit of a catch-22 - you feel like you can't end it because you are not in your right mind, but your nervous system won't calm until he is gone - it will take a few weeks at least. That's why support is so necessary, and your friends and family will be waiting to do that, I'm sure.

PoisedRoseWasp · 03/07/2025 07:49

Itchytoe · 03/07/2025 07:46

I’d be reporting him to SS on the basis of what you say

He's no longer allowed to have his children overnight, the mother of his children is filing for a non-molestation order against him. His other ex-partner already has one in place. The trouble is, he's convinced himself he's the victim and doesn't deserve any of this so much that even I start to believe he's a victim. It's terrifying. Until I switch my brain on, and realise this man is a con artist. Even his parents don't want him living there, they couldn't wait to get rid of him.

OP posts:
ChristmasFluff · 03/07/2025 07:49

And don't worry about him needing your charity - he probably wants you to move down south to be closer to the next victim he is lining up (and isolating you further is a happy side-effect). Men like him have a street-cunning that means they never suffer for long.

RunningJo · 03/07/2025 07:49

PoisedRoseWasp · 03/07/2025 07:46

I can't tell him to leave; that's the problem. He screams, shouts, and causes me so much anxiety, threatens to kill himself, or becomes abusive. I don't feel safe enough to do this on my own, he makes me so nervous and anxious I'm physically unwell.

Would a friend come over whilst you tell him, could they stay for a few days?

OP, Im so sorry you’re going through this, I can only imagine how difficult it feels, but you know this isn’t healthy, you aren’t happy. And this is because of him!. He is causing you to feel like this, he needs to go. You deserve to be happy.
Are there any charities that you could reach out to for advice on if to handle this?.

PoisedRoseWasp · 03/07/2025 07:50

ChristmasFluff · 03/07/2025 07:48

Contact your friends/family again and tell them you want him out - they are usually out there just waiting for you to see what they see so clearly - he doesn't love you, and in fact despises you.

think of how much you would have to hate someone to treat them the way he treats you - would you do it to your worst enemy? I doubt it. His actions show how he feels.

Change the locks, put his stuff outside, get a friend to stay with you for moral support, and call the Police when he kicks off. It's not embarrassing for you, it's embarrassing for him.

Also, you can report him to the Police for posting those images online.

And I'm afraid it's a bit of a catch-22 - you feel like you can't end it because you are not in your right mind, but your nervous system won't calm until he is gone - it will take a few weeks at least. That's why support is so necessary, and your friends and family will be waiting to do that, I'm sure.

That's the problem; when I left him before, I became unwell, anxious and scared and in thinking that I needed him back to be happy. That worked temporarily, but the reality is it got worst. I have terrible paranoia around him, his constant demands to move house are draining, and I can't see myself spending even the next month, never mind life with him.

OP posts:
ChristmasFluff · 03/07/2025 07:52

Keep in mind, this isn't love, it's more like an addiction on your part. Cold turkey is the only way, unfortunately.

There's a Facebook group, Survivors of Sociopaths, that can give support as you go through this.

PoisedRoseWasp · 03/07/2025 07:53

ChristmasFluff · 03/07/2025 07:49

And don't worry about him needing your charity - he probably wants you to move down south to be closer to the next victim he is lining up (and isolating you further is a happy side-effect). Men like him have a street-cunning that means they never suffer for long.

He was still asking his ex (the one who has the non-molestation order against him) to "get him hard" two days after telling me he was in love with me. She reached out to me and told me how dangerous, manipulative and calculating he is. His lies are second nature to him; I don't even know if he knows he's doing it. It just rolls off the tongue. Every time you ask him a question about something he did, he takes it back to some long-winded story about how so-and-so did this to him, and he struggled so badly, but he's proud of himself now for being a "better man" out of it. I know all of this is lies, I've just struggled so badly to piece it together and realise he doesn't love me at all.

OP posts:
Itchytoe · 03/07/2025 07:54

Do you want to have children op?

ChristmasFluff · 03/07/2025 07:54

He knows he doing it, and he does it because it works for him.

PoisedRoseWasp · 03/07/2025 07:57

Itchytoe · 03/07/2025 07:54

Do you want to have children op?

He wanted me to get pregnant within weeks; kept telling me he saw me as a mother, with a little girl (who looks just like me apparently). I never wanted children, he made me feel differently, until I did get pregnant and immediately terminated it. Now... this is another terrifying part. On these groups he was in, he was talking explicitly about how his ex-partner's daughter (his step-daughter) was dressing more provocatively when turning 14, and how he couldn't help looking at her differently. He says this isn't true, he saw her like his own, and would never say anything like this outside of doing cocaine. But on his phone, there are photos in bathing costumes of his own daughter and son, and I can't help but feel physically sick when I see them. I'm probably being horrendously dramatic, but there's something in me wants to throw up. He had also historically joined a Quora chat called "teen chats" as well as a "teen" forum on Discord, where he had saved several dressed images of young-ish girls, along with a screenshot I have of him talking to what he believed to be a 16-year old girl, asking to see her vagina.

OP posts:
Tangelablue · 03/07/2025 07:59

Sounds like you are trauma bonded to him. Speak to the police about wanting him to leave and let them know that he has refused in the past and become aggressive. You need a non molestation order to. Speak to ncdv who can support you in applying for this. Once he's out please take time to healing and look at support to understand what you have been through, look at doing the freedom program.