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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

sleeping with the enemy

124 replies

sadposter · 05/04/2010 18:54

I really need help. My H was kind and loving. He had a lot of anger issues from his childhood and he went to counselling to try and sort this. His behaviour at times could be very erratic and he was diagnosed with a mood disorder/depression. I knew life would never be easy with him but I did love him and he was very loving to me most of the time. At times he could be very abusive but I learned to not react and when they passed he would be very apologetic.

Before the recession we lived a fairly affluent lifestyle. I mention this because it's relevant I think. I began to suspect he may be messing around with other women. Anytime I confronted him he swore on dc's lives that he wasn't and that he adored me. Over time with a lot of detective work I discovered a whole other world of foreign prostitutes. Worse he set up a lot of these women in brothels and was making money from them.

I confronted him and told him to get out of the house or I'd expose him to everyone. He told me I was sick to think him capable of that. He denied everything and said he'd been set up. When I insisted he left he became very violent and in the end the police had to drag him from the house. He's never forgiven me for calling the police and insists that none of the above is true.

I began to question my sanity and thought I'd made him violent by my accusations. The police confirmed that it was true and I also had it confirmed from other sources. Still I could question it and wonder were they all wrong and was it possible he was innocent.

Since I exposed all of this the only way I can describe his behaviour is evil. He has tried to destroy me in so many ways.

I feel so broken that I had children with this man and that my marriage was a lie. I have no family support and have lost most of my support network as he has told they all lies about me. That I was only with him for money type thing and that I threw him out for no reason. I have told no one the truth because I want to protect the children.

He takes the children when it suits him and spoils them rotton. They get everything you could imagine which is the opposite to how I wanted them raised. I am struggling to make ends meet. He won't have them overnight or help in any practical way. He will only take them for a few hours to do fun stuff. The children think he's great.

I feel I am getting worse and worse. I do not want my children in his world but what can I do. I feel huge grief about everything. I don't want revenge but lately I really want to expose him. He now wants to take the children on holiday with his sister and I am really tempted to tell her everything. I hate leaving them go but is it right to punish them or him for his lifestyle?

I am sorry this is so long. I don't know how I'm ever going to recover from this. How will I ever get over the sadness and betrayal. I am constantly physically sick over all this. He is still involved in prostitution. Help

OP posts:
ItsGraceAgain · 06/04/2010 14:42

Listen, we have to assume OP's got good reasons to be afraid of the guy. I'm hoping those reasons are psychological - well, clearly I'm not hoping he's abused her into a cowering wreck, but meaning I hope her fears aren't practically accurate. But they may well be.

The systems that are in place to protect us are complex & fragile. Abusers abuse them. The old kiddy-fucker next door to me went to school with, and was in the Army with, the highest Court authorities. A paedophile of my acquaintance is still sunning himself in Thailand, despite having been extradited after a hugely expensive Interpol operation. I know women who've suffered like MrsFlittersnoop and sadposter. I've encountered men like their husbands (in Thailand, Brazil & Gambia, if you're interested,) who find themselves quite wonderful & clever. On a local scale, my Daddy got way with his shit because he had influence within the police and the courts.

My first thought was "Give it to The Times, they'll love it." But what if he owns The Times?? What if Mr Murdoch were one of his 'customers', or somebody with influence on the paper is? Poor sadposter seems absolutely at her wits' end and she has sought advice in the proper quarters. So she is correct in feeling she's powerless to stop her horrible husband abusing a multitude of women (the hookers).

We can't say "try this" because we don't know what's fesible.

I hope she has contacted Womens' Aid and every other agency that has experience with wwide-sphere abusers. There are enough of the arseholes about, and there are people who know how to get victims out of an abuser's sphere. You certainly need more help than a famly solicitor can offer, sadposter. Please keep looking for that help, until you find it.

Wishing you well.

ItsGraceAgain · 06/04/2010 14:44

must clean keyboard

ItsGraceAgain · 06/04/2010 14:57

sadposter, you asked: "I don't know how I'm ever going to recover from this. How will I ever get over the sadness and betrayal."

First advice: Ring Women's Aid, see if they can put you in contact with more dynamic sources of help.

Next: Get angry. You bloody well should be!! You've been conned, and then some

Third: Tell somebody how you feel. Spill every bean in the tin, wail, howl, roar and stamp your feet! Samaritans are very good for this.

Next: Ask your counsellor, specifically, how she can help you build a new and healthier life. If she waffles, fire her and ask Womens Aid and/or Victim Support for the number of a really hot therapist with expereince of serious crime.

Finally: There's nothing wrong with antidepressants. Your body needs support. Go to GP.

Remember, you are not wrong. You have been wronged. You deserve help.

sadposter · 07/04/2010 10:47

Ok, I would like to thank the last posters for their kind advice & suggestions. I walked away from the thread because there are some questions I will not be able to answer & because really I'm not sure anyone will be able to help with this. The situationn is very complicated & there's a lot I can't post here.

I ended up outing myself to someone who posted a reply on the thread & who knows me under a different name. They suggested I continued to post or kindly offered to activate the thread for me.

Grace you are right that there is such a thing as innocent till proven guilty & that justice is never achieved for a lot of crimes. The law can be very protective of the perputrators of crimes. There was a case here some time ago where a man murdered his wife. The grandparents did everything to get custody of the dc's but were unable to do so as in the eyes of the law he was innocent till proven guilty. They ended up having no contact with the dc's until he was found guilty & that process took two years.

If the people that flamed me really think that every criminal or every man who is involved in prostitution has lost custody of their dc's they are being very naive. What my exh is doing would not be considered the worst of crimes, despite what you or I might think. To a certain extent it's white collar crime. Also he would be considered a small fish in this. The women were already working in that area, he's taking it off the street as such. I would not have posted this thread if I condoned this in anyway but those are the facts.

If I shout this from the roof tops as suggested my dc's will be in considerable danger as will I. As long as my exh does not feel threatened my dc's are safe.

I have come back out of respect to all those who offered their advice & also to let people know this is not a hoax. I may have to find peace in this & just detach from what exh is doing if nothing comes of the investigation. There is not an easy solution but I am just trying to find a way forward for me & dc's.

mrsboogie, you were right. I did post something before a few months ago when I had just had it confirmed. I genuinely did not remember doing this (I don't drink). I spent ages doing searches of old posts & eventually came up with my own . I had no recollection of doing this but I'd posted in a different vein & had only got four replies, all saying not to expose him.

OP posts:
StrawberriesAndCherries · 07/04/2010 16:43

fwiw I totally understand why you dont expose him - if it puts your dc in danger then it is a no-brainer.

really hope you can find a way through this awful situation xx

dizietsma · 07/04/2010 17:36

"I may have to find peace in this & just detach from what exh is doing if nothing comes of the investigation. There is not an easy solution but I am just trying to find a way forward for me & dc's."

I don't think detaching is a hard solution, I think it's the lazy solution. All you have to do in this situation is (metaphorically) stick your fingers in your ears and go "LALALALALA".

The hard solution is to move your kids away where he cannot find them, get a decent lawyer who will fight your case for you effectively.

Letting a man have regular access to your children who beats you up and trashes your house, then buys your children's affection with gifts from the proceeds of female exploitation, is not what I'd describe as responsible parenting.

But then, what would I know? I only watched the abuse of my mother all my childhood.

P.S. He's a pimp, nothing "white collar" about it.

giveitago · 07/04/2010 18:52

Sad - what is your ultimate concern? Is it that he can take your children away from you?

Of course a child would think that dad is cool when he just spends a few hours and alot of cash - no childcare duties or disciplining or instilling morals. That's common to alot of seperation.

Dont confuse that with your concerns about his criminal life.

What is your ultimate concern if you/ authorities cannot/will not get justice?

Problem with these type of cases they are hard to prove - money laundering (if that's what you are suggesting) is a hard one.

giveitago · 07/04/2010 18:56

Sad - look I say this not as someone in your position but I've known people in my life (not closely) who own businesses who make no money but they keep them open - obvious to me that it's money laundering and I've heard some stuff on the grapevine of pimping - this is what your dp has been doing.

In the absense of being able to do anything I keep my family away from trouble but this is the father of your kids. I cannot begin to imagine what's going on in your head.

I have little experience of the authorities but if the police have a file on this guy can it not be shared with social services toy our benefit?

It must be truly head f'king to be in your shoes.

sadposter · 07/04/2010 18:59

Thanks Strawberries. Thanks also dizietsma, I only meant that as a short time solution until I can find a way out of this. Doing a runner with the dc's is not really an option. I would have no way of supporting them as I would then be perceived as the criminal. I would hardly have posted this here if I was going to bury my head in the sand. I have been formulating a plan since I posted this. I will be speaking with the police officer again on fri & will know more after that. For both my & my dc's sake I have to tackle this within the boundaries of the law. I know there is nothing "white collar" about it, I was merely pointing out that is how his activities could be perceived in the criminal field. I agree 100% about responsible parenting that is why I posted this looking for suggestions. I already said it kills me that my dc's are benefiting from female exploitation.

OP posts:
giveitago · 07/04/2010 19:06

You are right - yuou are not burying your head in the sand - you have no power so it's damage limitation.

Don't the police and social services work together.

Also if he has a legit business and is money laundering that's a hard one.

You will in the first instance need to separate his parental stuff from the other stuff as can't affect any change - but if it's the thought of your kids benefitting from female exploitation then there's little you can do. If it's a question that he has a hold on you and your kids and you feel you'll lose them then you need to fight him.

sadposter · 07/04/2010 19:07

Thanks giveitago, my concern it that I do not want my children around someone who has no morals or standards. I do not want them benefiting from this. My children would be hurt far more in the short term if this is all exposed but they would learn valuable life standards. The police can't do anything unless he is charged otherwise it is merely allegations.

OP posts:
sadposter · 07/04/2010 19:09

thanks again giveitago, there is no fear I will lose my kids. He's too selfish & self centred anyway to even look for them.

OP posts:
giveitago · 07/04/2010 19:18

Well that's the most important thing.

If you think there's money laundering involved (there must be) then the only extra thing you can do is to contact IR?

Gross for you it really is. He sounds FOUL.

Be the best mum you can be in the meantime. If you cannot do anything then you have no choice but to look after yourself and your dcs.

cedricdoris1 · 07/04/2010 20:16

sadposter - you haven't mentioned whether you have/will contact Women's Aid? I truly believe that they will be able to help you and point you in the right direction for processes etc., to ensure your dc's are safe that is of paramount importance and what totally comes out of all your postings I know how mindbending abusive behaviour is and have been crippled by it myself please contact them as soon as you possibly can

sadposter · 07/04/2010 20:24

Thanks cedricdoris1, I did mention in one of my posts that I had contacted women's aid. They were great to advise on the domestic violence but were not able to offer any real help with prostitution. The told me to get legal help.

OP posts:
cedricdoris1 · 07/04/2010 20:35

sorry sadposter I must've missed that bit - can they not offer any help with counselling, advice with regard to access to children etc., the prostitution stuff is a separate (albeit related) subject, just general keeping you and the children safe, i know that was my biggest fear does your local council have a domestic violence/abuse department

sadposter · 07/04/2010 20:50

Thanks cedricdoris1 I got great help on the domestic violence. I'm on high alert etc. I just have to find some way not to deal with the rest.

OP posts:
cedricdoris1 · 07/04/2010 21:03

i'm glad to hear that part of your life has some support and i wish you all the very best in resolving an horrendous situation you find yourself in sending you big hugs

sungirltan · 07/04/2010 21:06

blimey.

i'm sorry for you op. i found out recently that one of my exes runs strip clubs in eastern europe these days. i was pretty horrified by that. can't imagine how you feel about all this.

ok the only advice i can give you is to get a solicitor that specialises in family law if yours doesn't already and start putting a case together around why the ex shouldn't have unlimited access. you could talk to solicitor about a 'prohibitive steps' (section 8, childrens act 1989 i think) order which can be used to stop him doing things you are unhappy about. this can include taking the dcs on holiday or changing schools etc - they all have to be stipulated.

in the meantime you need to start a diary and log all of the threatening behaviour/texts/phonecalls/contact whatever to back yourself up. you need some evidence to prove why he should perhaps only have supervised contact, if that so start collecting some.

good luck x

sadposter · 07/04/2010 21:58

Thanks sungirltan I am doing all of that. I do think it's only a matter of time before he slips up one way or another. You had a lucky escape. I would never have believed that I could have ended up in this position.

OP posts:
sadposter · 07/04/2010 21:59

Thank you cedricdoris1 for your support.

OP posts:
NEmummy · 07/04/2010 22:13

I'm so glad this post has turned around a bit. It was awful to have the Spanish Inquisition from the 'Troll Hunters' at first. Glad you are getting good advice SP. X

sadposter · 07/04/2010 22:30

Thank you NEmummy. I wouldn't have posted this if I was trying to protect him. I am an ordinary woman raising dc's that got caught up in this terrible situation. I do know though one way or another I will find my way through this. Being honest the first day I posted this it took a toll because it made me emotional and a bit defensive trying to point out I was doing everything possible. I now feel a lot stronger though. There are a few ideas circulating in my brain at the moment.

OP posts:
maduggar · 07/04/2010 23:09

I have no words of advice, but just hope you get the best outcoem from all this, it must be horrendous for you

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