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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

Go easy on me please, discovered my partner of 8 years is a serial online cheat

66 replies

Lifeisruined · 01/08/2025 21:07

I don’t even know where to begin really. About 6 weeks ago I asked if I could check his Facebook was set to private (I’m really funny about people seeing in to my children’s lives) and he has had NO issue handing me his phone before but this time he went grey, he was visibly shaking and I could see his heartbeat through his t shirt. He fumbled and went on to his Facebook messages, there was a work colleague and the only message was ‘If only you knew what was waiting for you on Snapchat’ he played dumb, I demanded he downloaded it - I say downloaded because I had NO clue at all he ever still used it. We used to send each other silly snaps of the dog back when we first got together so I’m talking I didn’t know he’d used it in 6/7 years.

He downloaded it and there she was sending him a nude. I went berserk, left the house and after a while came back and he admitted he’d used Snapchat to speak to her as friends only and that she was the one sending nudes with zero encouragement from him, yeah right I thought. Anyway, I messaged her, turns out she too has a husband so I also threatened to tell him. She knew who I was and replied almost instantly. She said she was an arsehole, a wanker, a piece of shit and it was all her and I shouldn’t punish my partner because of it. I didn’t believe it at first and thought she was covering for him but I made him also message her on his Facebook and ask her to explain herself, she replied again saying it was all her and ‘there was nothing more she could do to help him’. Best believe I also told her husband everything.

Anyway, I thought I could get over that, he left his job and has since found elsewhere working from home. But in the weeks he was out of work I just had this AWFUL suspicion in my gut and I checked his phone further. I won’t go in to too much detail about how this all came out but over the past 4/5 weeks I’ve slowly discovered all of his serial online cheating. Almost as though he’s been living a secret double life. I first downloaded his Reddit, it was FILLED with porn. Now I will say I told him porn was a hard no at the beginning of our relationship, that boundary has been there since the start and he agreed to it.

Unfortunately that was just the tip of the iceberg. Reddit lead me to a secret Snapchat I’d never heard of before. I couldn’t log in though for some reason and he CONVINCED me that it was because he’d already deleted it in a panic when the stuff with his work colleague came out. He said it was just messages to sex workers, where he’d try and get free content, photos he’d saved and he was part of group chats where men circulated photos of women. On his Reddit I also found his Onlyfans. Never in my wildest fucking dreams did I think he’d use Onlyfans. He denied it at first ‘NO WAY have I EVER had an Onlyfans account’ he protested. So I reset the password and there it was, a link through to his email and I logged in and saw it all. Endless subscriptions, paying for personalised content, paying for messages from sex workers and the real kicker? He’d subscribed to a friend of mine, an old neighbour of ours. He didn’t just subscribe, he pestered her for to her ‘play with her p*y’ it was honestly gut wrenching to read. He used to mock her all the time when we lived next door to her, constantly saying how desperate for fame she was and even saying ‘who’d subscribe to her honestly’ erm, you?

Over the next couple weeks I found out he’d also used Instagram, Twitter, Telegram, Tumblr and TikTok to view porn. I found he’d regularly go on Chatroulette and Omegle to have sexual conversations with strangers. Then the worst for me was finding he was on Tinder for 3 fucking years of our relationship, not just at the beginning either, as though maybe he didn’t delete an old account, oh no he created a profile after we’d been together 2/3 years. I was mortified, heartbroken, sick to my stomach - all of the above. Again he used it to have sexual conversations with women he matched with.

Going back to the Snapchat, I saw he had a second email address when I logged on to his Apple account yesterday and I used that to reset the password and there it was, he hadn’t deleted it at all. There it all was in front of me. Multiple and I mean MULTIPLE conversations with every day, regular women he’d find on tinder. He PESTERED them like that fucking creepy guy you get in your inbox sometimes to send him pictures. Trying to butter them up first by calling them beautiful, messaging them sweet dreams etc at night. Saying how badly he wished he was in bed with them to wake up cuddling them ‘whilst he poked them in the back’ it was all very obvious he only saw these women as objects for sexual gratification, which is fucking disgusting I know.

Since this came out, he has started going to therapy. Has packed his PC away, deleted all his social media and all his apps, has Google family link on his phone so I can track everything he does. He gave up the job with the work colleague who sent him nudes and generally I could see he was much more present in our lives. We have 3 children together, 3 young children so it was hard at first to not give him a chance as fucked up as that sounds.

Since I found out he hadn’t really deleted the secret Snapchat and he lied about there being conversations with women from Tinder we have separated. I’m unsure yet if this can even be worked through. He’s begging me to give him another chance but I actually don’t want this, I don’t want a life where I have to worry like this. I have been fucking completely floored by this and I wouldn’t even know where to begin to start rebuilding things. Before the extra lies that were revealed last night I had started to somehow move on but I don’t know how to after this.

Thank you to anybody who has gotten this far and I know what most of your reactions will be, but I really could do with a handhold and some support through this as this man was my world. He was very much a golden retriever kind of guy, sweet, loving and kind. He always appeared to put me first, he’s nursed me back to health when I went through a major health scare a few years ago, he has been my rock. Like I said I’m devastated, totally and utterly fucking devastated.

OP posts:
YetanotherNC25 · 01/08/2025 21:14

I think this could be one of the strongest LTB’s I’ve read on here in a long time. Run far and fast. I’m sorry this is happening to you.

Mysticguru · 01/08/2025 21:15

I have no words. Sending a handhold OP.
I do know you will get through this.

Keroppi · 01/08/2025 21:17

I'm so sorry :( that's heartbreaking to read. I think marriage counselling together and individually for you 100%
But the fact he's lied and lied again. And right now he's playing the victim and begging to be taken back - what about next time you catch him (AGAIN) - he might not even bother acting upset because he thinks you should know/accept this! He's pornbrained and sick in the head. And who's to say he won't get into more extreme pyrography? I don't know. I'd be worried about how he raises daughters/sons..

Perhaps he needs to take accountability, tell his family and friends, go to sex addict anonymous? You'd have to be totally checking his devices constantly like he's a child because the trust is totally gone. I mean, that's essentially what you've done and he's done it again 😢💔

I think I would be the same as you- the trust is totally gone, time to split up. You'd never feel comfortable again and it would end up with you never being intimate or emotionally honest with each other.

I would do everything possible to keep him on his good side/begging for you to give him a chance as it would make it easier for him to agree to demands such as him moving out, the childcare split you want etc CMS. Send him to live with his mum?

Try and get your game face on and make a list of what needs doing, who needs telling and how you're going to take the next steps, you got this. X

YesHonestly · 01/08/2025 21:17

This isn’t a one off, it’s a pattern of behaviour going back years.

Work colleagues, neighbours - how many other people knew what a disgusting sleeze your husband is before you did?

He is, as usual, only sorry he’s been caught. If you hadn’t seen that original message, he would still be doing it now.

This is who he is OP. You need to leave, you really do.

Luccalover · 01/08/2025 21:30

He’s addicted to sex and won’t change. You don’t need this. x

IsawwhatIsaw · 01/08/2025 21:35

He’s a serial liar and cheat. You can never trust him again, so thus relationship is over.
Hope you’ve got a supportive family and friends. I’d be getting legal advice asap to get this individual out of your life.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 01/08/2025 21:45

Well I am just really sorry OP, what a situation to be dumped in.

I would encourage you to give him no more chances though. He is an addict and if he can get over that it will be years of work, and probably only by separating will he properly face up to it. As a side note there is also a fairly good chance he already cheated in real life, or was building up to it.

It sounds like he has some good qualities so focus on having a civil separation and building a good co-parent relationship. Remind him not to let his kids down twice by messing up as a co-parent.

Do not become his emotional support person though. His therapist can do that. Have firm boundaries, do not be close friends.

Also, see a lawyer - you need to get the best clean break financial settlement you can for you and the kids. There is a risk he might throw himself into a world of call girls etc, develop some cross addictions, and blow a lot of money.

INeedAnotherAlibi · 01/08/2025 21:46

The man you thought you loved was a facade. It will take some time to accept this. The sleaze bag is the real him. I doubt even intense therapy will stop him. The temptation is everywhere and he’s clearly addicted. He’s shown over and over again that he treats women like objects. How could you ever trust him again? You’d be forever monitoring his phone, computers. He’d only get more devious.
It’s a rare LTB from me. It’ll be tough but it’s better than living a lie.

FancyCatSlave · 01/08/2025 21:55

It would be less traumatic if he had just had a straightforward affair - but he’s an absolute sex pest disgrace. Yuck.

Gossyboo · 01/08/2025 21:56

He will never change, he will just get better at lying to you. I'm really sorry you are going through this, you and your kids deserve much better.

Shadesofscarlett · 01/08/2025 21:57

This man is not a golden retriever - he is an out and out sex pest. Dump him and counselling for you to restore some self esteem, so you realise once and for all you cannot fix him or get over this and stay with him.

Flatbellyfella · 01/08/2025 22:21

Don’t hesitate to LTB, take your time to find an honest partner.

Oneborneveryminute25 · 02/08/2025 00:29

This is the real man, not the lovely dedicated loyal guy you thought you were with.

Do not even entertain trying to stay with him. He'll just continue lying and gaslighting you.

So very sorry OP.

FullOfLoveAndObsessiveCleaner · 02/08/2025 00:52

Right here holding your hand and sending hugs.
You have to stay strong now for you and your kids.
It's not the real him you're going to be missing. It's the person you thought he was. But that person doesn't exist. He never did. I know it hurts right now, and it will for a while, but it will get better. In your heart you know it will, in time. Stay strong and don't look back.
Keep your chin up and your shoulders back. Accept you'll have bad days and roll with them. But they'll pass and you'll come out the other end stronger. Please don't go back to square one. You've done the hardest part now. Stick with it!
Sending hugs

pecanpiee · 02/08/2025 01:05

How horrific OP, so sorry 💔

Lifeisruined · 02/08/2025 08:19

Thank you so much everybody! ♥️

I knew it’s what you’d all say but I genuinely believe I needed to hear it from other people tbh. It’s what all my family and close friends are saying to me too.

It’s so hard when small kids are involved, even harder when it’s not like you’ve just fallen out of love and it’s for the best. Just can’t believe he’s done this to our family 😔 I never thought he would do this, truly I never did.

OP posts:
Typicalwave · 02/08/2025 08:30

I could never ever have him near me ever again.

Im sorry OP. The only silver lining I guess is that you’ve found out now and not in 20 years time.

Booyaka619 · 02/08/2025 08:33

I’m so sorry you’re going through this OP. I had similar with my ex husband (thought he was lovely, loyal, wonderful…then discovered a shocking amount of online activity by chance, and when I dug a little it was much, much worse than I could have ever imagined). We had marriage counselling because he begged, swore that it was all fantasy and he’d never act on it, he’d been stupid and he loved me…the whole predictable spiel. He even told his family (some of) what he’d done to ‘show accountability’.

5 years later he started a physical affair. I went digging again when I suspected something was going on…and discovered he was doing the exact same thing again, with multiple women. He left me for his affair partner, they got married and had children…and a few years later I’ve been told that he’s on multiple dating and hookup sites, apparently doing/heading towards doing the same things yet again.

I may be biased due to my own experience, but I’d advise cutting your losses now. Don’t give him another chance, and leave the sleazy prick. You deserve so much better.

isthesolution · 02/08/2025 08:39

You’ll never trust him again. And why should you?! And therefore I’d cut your losses now and get the hell out of there.

notthatoldchestnut · 02/08/2025 08:53

I’m so sorry for you OP because this is clearly incredibly difficult to come to terms with. However, having access to everything he does so that you can, in effect, stalk him, is not the answer.

you either want to be with him or you don’t. You don’t need a life where you’re constantly checking what your partner is doing. If the trust has gone, then you need to leave and start respecting yourself.

no one deserves a life under the spotlight so that their every move can be tracked and dissected. He gets to own his own decisions. As do you. You don’t have to stay.

PandaWriter · 02/08/2025 08:58

So sorry 💔 what a terrible shock.

OnlyHerefortheBiscuits · 02/08/2025 08:59

I couldnt read and run OP . Not least because despite you being in bits your post is coherent and easy to read but also because it strikes something to the core of all of us doesn't it.

You described him as a "golden retriever " kind of guy and then he turns out to be this in disguise.

It terrifying. None of us can truly ever know. And there's many men "golden retriever-ing" their way through their lives with the partners blissfully unaware right now. Today. This morning.

terrifying

JeremyBearimysTimeKnife · 02/08/2025 09:16

I’m so sorry you’re going through this OP Flowers I have nothing to offer that hasn’t already been said more eloquently by others but please know there are many of us here to support you, some of whom have similar experiences to yours, and you’re not alone here. I notice you mentioned family and friends so it sounds like you’ve got trustworthy people around you in real life which is great. Keep talking, an anonymous online rant can sometimes be really cathartic as I’m sure you’ve discovered. Stay strong, it’s truly awful right now but you can and will come to terms with it in your own time, one day at a time

Lifeisruined · 02/08/2025 10:28

notthatoldchestnut · 02/08/2025 08:53

I’m so sorry for you OP because this is clearly incredibly difficult to come to terms with. However, having access to everything he does so that you can, in effect, stalk him, is not the answer.

you either want to be with him or you don’t. You don’t need a life where you’re constantly checking what your partner is doing. If the trust has gone, then you need to leave and start respecting yourself.

no one deserves a life under the spotlight so that their every move can be tracked and dissected. He gets to own his own decisions. As do you. You don’t have to stay.

Absolutely.

It’s him who has put these steps in place to show he’s being ‘better’ but I didn’t want any of it. I genuinely want the relationship we had before where I wholeheartedly trusted him with everything in me, I never felt the need to check his phone or worry at all. 😔

OP posts:
Lifeisruined · 02/08/2025 10:34

OnlyHerefortheBiscuits · 02/08/2025 08:59

I couldnt read and run OP . Not least because despite you being in bits your post is coherent and easy to read but also because it strikes something to the core of all of us doesn't it.

You described him as a "golden retriever " kind of guy and then he turns out to be this in disguise.

It terrifying. None of us can truly ever know. And there's many men "golden retriever-ing" their way through their lives with the partners blissfully unaware right now. Today. This morning.

terrifying

Yup. I honestly now look at every man and think ‘I wonder if you’re doing something too?’

He was even inexperienced when I met him. Only had two sexual partners before and one girlfriend of a MONTH that was it. I thought I’d hit the jackpot that I had no ‘crazy exes’ to compete with or worry about.

I really thought he was perfection. He worshipped the ground I walked on, would do anything I asked, a brilliant father and he helped out around the house, he’s never been one of these lazy men who don’t lift a finger. He’s always been so proactive, happily taking the kids out so I get regular breaks, I’ve never ever had to beg for anything from him before.

It’s utterly devastating that he was hiding this all along and I hand on my heart had no idea.

OP posts: