Firstly let me apologise for the length of this blog but I had to get it down to give it context it deserves?
I met someone, she was amazing??.. at first, a Polish girl she was beautiful, charming, full of energy, elegant and oozed sexuality, most men would look on in envy.
Early on in the relationship I noticed that in her bedroom the waste bin was always full of empty cans of lager. Whenever we had a meal at mine and I would buy a bottle of wine, she would buy another or sometimes two more.
Regardless we were having fun and the relationship was like a whirlwind. However after about 6 months of living with me my new girlfriend started to become jealous of my children. She would start drinking quite heavily on a Thursday night before my weekend with them. She also became irrationally controlling and demanding of my time and attention. Her drinking in general became heavier and she started to have mood swings. On one occasion when the kids were staying over with me she took my arm from around my daughter and placed it around her.
Her controlling became more intense, we ate what she wanted to eat, we watched what she wanted to watch, we went where she wanted to go and if we diverted from her wants she would get agitated, frustrated, sulky and start drinking causing more arguments.
Instead of doing what I should have done, I did everything in my power to avoid conflict, to avoid her getting sulky and so avoid her drinking too much and in doing so to reduce the amount of arguments.
One night things took a turn for the worse. The relationship now a year old I put a computer game on. She started drinking wine and after half an hour told me to turn it off because the noise was upsetting her. Instead of turning it off I plugged in some headphones hoping this would solve the situation. From out of nowhere she threw her glass of wine at me from about 2 foot away. It smashed, luckily on the ear piece of the headphones. Startled I took off the headphones and asked what the hell she thought she was doing, an argument ensued and I called the police. We were both taken to the local police station and she received a caution for assault.
Full of remorse she promised nothing like that would happen again and agreed to reduce her alcohol consumption. As time wore on, weeks and then months her alcohol consumption started to increase again. On one occasion she had told me how her and her father when she was an adolescent used to drink together and how they had to finish up quickly if they saw her mother coming home from work.
She would mostly drink when she was in a bad mood or when she was bored, agitated or frustrated. In doing so, getting drunk when not in good humour always resulted in arguments. On one occasion when my children were around she got drunk in front of them and made constant sarcastic remarks. Once they were in bed and asleep I remonstrated with her about her behaviour in front of them and she went for me, scratching my face to pieces (sounds extreme but I was a mess). The next day she again was full of remorse. On this occasion I did not call the police but took photos of my injuries (unfortunately on an old phone I no longer have). She applied foundation and cover-up and literally had to cake it on so that my children would not notice and become distressed. I took 2 days off work and said on my return that I had injured myself falling off my bike (in hindsight not a clever cover story as I did not own a bike and was not known for my bike riding adventures but it was all I could think of at the time). It transpired later that work mates knew my story was a lie as they were aware of my girlfriends drinking issues and stated that it was clear my injuries were consistent with finger nail marks.
One night in a drunken rage she started smashing my computer and TV. I pushed her out of the room and wedged the sofa to the door so she could not get back into the front room. I told her I would sleep in there and she could sleep in the bedroom and that I would not let her back in until she had calmed down and sobered up. She then proceeded to take the iron and smashed a hole in the reinforced window next to the living room door and climbed through the small hole she had made, gashing her hand badly. I called the ambulance and they arrived with police. I made a statement but decided not to press charges.
I asked my girlfriend to move out and we had our first split, not before time. We started communicating again a few weeks later though as I thought if it wasn?t for her drinking she would be fine. Again she promised that she had stopped drinking and after a couple of months she moved back in.
Of course the drinking started again. My landlady needed to move back in as she had run into financial difficulties. My girlfriend turned her nose up at each and every property we looked at. Working full time in a pressurised sales role things were getting on top of me. My girlfriend would just be critical and I said that we were running out of time and would soon be homeless and have no other option than to move in with my parents. This made my girlfriend drink more and more right up to the day of departure. She was on the sofa or in bed drunk daily, being sick everywhere and did not lift a finger to help me. I had to clean the whole flat and move everything myself into the van. On the day we left she got drunk and locked herself in the bathroom. The landlady?s husband asked what was going on and I told them she was drunk and had locked the door. He broke the door down, picked her up and physically removed her from the flat. ?You?re an intelligent bloke Phil, what the hell are you putting up with that for??. I knew he was right.
My girlfriend had nowhere else to go. I took her to my parents and she helped herself to my dad?s alcohol and got drunk in front of them. When we went to bed I remonstrated with her and she said you should support me, you are my boyfriend, that?s what partners should do and then slapped me and bit a hole in my shoulder.
The next day I called her brother who lived in London and told her she had to go. He came and collected her and I hear spent the next few days drunk at his and upsetting her sister-in-law (They hardly speak to her anymore or have anything to do with her) before moving back to her parents in Poland.
Approximately 6 weeks later I received a call from Poland, it was her, she told me that her brother had just been tragically killed in a motorbike accident. Like a fool I gave her a shoulder to cry on, in the meantime running up a £1,500 phone bill. I flew out to be with her and she promised to get help for her drinking again! I was crazy but again I believed her. I got a nice house in a nice area by a river and she came back with me to the UK. She shortly fell pregnant.
I hoped that being pregnant would change her and make her serious about giving up the alcohol. Instead she drank right the way through the pregnancy. The hospital requested we attend additional scans due to their concerns for foetus size and development.
She would binge drink despite my protestations, despite my pleading, my shouting, my trying to restrict her money, she would find money from somewhere. She would drink until she was sick. It made me sick watching her do that to herself and to our unborn child. I couldn?t though despite my threats bring myself to inform any authorities. I felt that his would be a sign of failure and was worried about the stigma of social services being involved.
Luckily our son was born with no obvious serious physical defects. He has folds of skin near eyes and despite me being 6 foot and her being 5 foot 8 inches was under 15 percentile for both weight and height at birth and is still small for his age now. In addition he also had far more problems with mobility and balance when learning to walk than either of my other children and I understand these are all typical signs of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
After birth she would continue drinking, verbally, emotionally and sometimes physically abusing me. On one occasion she asked me to go to the shop to get her beer and I refused, she slapped me as hard as she could 3 times. Not a girly slap, with fingers, she is no weakling and used the full force of her hand and force. I went to bed and cried like a baby. I spoke to a men?s helpline and they advised I start to keep a diary which I did. On one occasion I told her about this diary in the hope that this would stop the assault.
Instead to my horror she retorted the next day that she was seeing a health visitor and telling her about me assaulting her. Hand on heart the only physical injuries she received from me were maybe bruising to arms where I had tried to restrain her. I told her she was mad and hoped that she was just making it up to manipulate me, something she was very good at.
I returned from work on a number of occasions and found her in bed with our son as drunk. On one occasion when it snowed badly in December and our son was 5 months old I went into town early as she had been drunk the night before and we argued. I bought a teething ring for our son and food to make an English breakfast which was one of her favourites. Driving back I saw her walking up the hill from our house, she was obviously still drunk, I presume she had been drinking while I was in town. I wound down the window and asked where she was going and was ignored, I asked where our son was and she just kept walking.
I drove back to the house hoping that one of her Polish friends was there with our son, let myself in and found our son alone and crying in his cot. When she returned I shouted at her and said what would have happened if there was a fire? She replied, people leave their children all the time to go to the shop in Poland. I called one of her Polish friends and asked if this was true and was told it was not, I called her brother and asked him to help me or to speak with his parents to get them to speak with his sister about her drinking and behaviour. He refused to get involved.
Due to this event I withdrew any affection from her, how could I not, this only intensified things and time and again I came home and found her drunk with our little one. On the 20th December I came home and she was gone. I checked the website and found that she had taken him to Poland. I checked Facebook and she was still logged in, I shouldn?t have, but I checked her messages. She had been telling people that I was a bad dad and always getting drunk and so had decided to go for xmas to Poland with our son on his first xmas!! I was so hurt, angry that I sent some of her friends an email explaining it was her who was drinking and due to drinking during pregnancy I thought our son had signs of foetal alcohol syndrome.
She stayed in Poland and started communicating with me to come and get them. 2 months past and In February due to my agony of being separated from my little one, who from birth I had bathed, changed nappies, fed, given love and affection to the pain and longing were too much. Again I went to Poland, probably so she could make out to her parents who didn?t speak English that it was my fault for her taking him there for so long, god knows what she told them (I have a text message from her brother saying there is no point talking to my parents as she will just lie and tell them a completely different story).
We returned to the UK. Again she promised to stop drinking. She didn?t of course. On two more occasions I had to call police after being assaulted, emotional and verbal abuse was on-going, she would threaten to move out and take our son to her Polish friends on the other side of town. I checked and our son?s passport was missing.
On one occasion she came downstairs as I was making breakfast and holding our son, she smacked me hard around the face. I have an audio recording where she was drunk some days later and having a moan at me about going to the pub (When she became aggressive I used to go for a walk, to the puv or around my sisters), I did these recordings in case she got aggressive or assaulted me for evidence. In the audio recording I say to her ?how can you be angry at me for going out, when you slapped me while I was holding our bay, how can you be angry when you left him on his own, when you put him in the garden in the cold because you were angry?? and she just is heard to reply,? I?m not talking about that, you are his father and you should be here even if there is a second world war?!
On another occasion she was angry with me for having a cigarette in the garden, our son had only just come out of the batch and it was dusk in April, she put our son in the garden and closed the door, he looked around and was visibly upset, didn?t understand what was happening or why his mum would do that. I quickly took a photo and then took him back in to the warm. Remonstrating with her she said you are at fault for having a cigarette, when you should be looking after your son.
The final time an assault was committed on me, living in the house by the river was when after slapping me hard for no reason three times, I said that?s it, enough, one more and I call the police. She struck me hard twice more, the fifth and final slap leading me to lose vision in one eye. I was worried she had detached my retina and called the police. The police arrived and led her from the house.
The police said that she claimed it was me who attacked her. I even had an audio recording of the assault as after speaking with the men?s helpline they suggested this. I have numerous recordings of her verbally and emotionally abusing me.
It broke my heart seeing my son leave the house. She moved in with her friends as she had previously threatened. I went there on our son?s birthday and she was coming back from the shop with him. She pushed the buggy hard into my legs and said ?you will never see him again? and went inside shielding him from my view. She called the police and accused me of harassment and sending threatening messages. I showed the police the messages I had sent, none were threatening but there were quite a few, all asking to see my son and the police said threatening or not it can still be constituted as harassment.
Shortly after this and with her not letting me see my son for 8 weeks I was becoming desperate. It felt like bereavement. I filled for a contact order and she filled for a non-molestation order against me!
When I saw the lies and accusations in her order which was given with no notice, I broke down in tears in front of my own father. I cried like a baby and asked for help with a solicitor. He refused saying you knew what she was like. I had to defend myself as I could not afford a solicitor. My work as a manager deteriorated over these months and I was a few months later dismissed for gross misconduct after being accused of smoking out of the kitchen window after working for them for 15 years!!
Despite this I managed to go to court and win a contact order. I had asked for residency due to her alcohol abuse, leaving our son on his own, etc. I spoke to social services; they went to her friends flat and said our son was fine. I spoke to Cafcass they didn?t even send anyone to speak with me.
I went to court but had realised from googling non-molestation orders that there was not one example of anyone defending one or overturning one. I read that I should ask for an undertaking. I went to court and they breezed through, her solicitor said no to an undertaking. All I was guilty of in her accusations was sending a message on her Facebook account and sending her a lot of texts to see our son. My burning desire was to see him again so I took the non-molestation order, got contact and she was given residency.
I could not believe it. The court it seems didn?t look at any of my information, evidence. Social services went to her flat once and said all was ok, when being a binge drinker and not an alcoholic they would have had to have perfect timing to see her drunk, which in her friends flat she wouldn?t anyway. Cafcass didn?t even come and see me. The police said that my audio recording of her assault was enough to arrest her, which they did but said cps did not say evidence was enough to prosecute and audio recordings were not admissible in criminal case but were in civil case.
So my son was left with her and I was left with 2 days a fortnight.
The same pattern continued. Despite the non-molestation order she started to call me, text me, email me to manipulate me again to take her back. Eventually her friends told her to get a council flat she had to become homeless and they threatened to throw her out so this aim was realised. At first she was in hotel accommodation. On one occasion I went for additional contact that she had offered me and when I said I would not stay the night, she stopped me from leaving by putting our son in front of my car, there was only one exit. I took a photo and diarised this.
Soon they had to leave the hotel and were put into a hostel, with recovering drug addicts and people just out of prison. I ended up staying there almost every night as I was so scared for them. I helped her look for a flat and eventually she got a good one. I was relieved. I helped her decorate, put up curtains, painted, went to B&Q for her, plumbed in washing machine and paid her maintenance. In the end being suspended from work and with lots of time on my hands, her offer of unlimited contact with my son saw me almost living there, despite the non-mol.
She would still drink, on one occasion she assaulted me as I said if you are going to drink and become nasty I no longer have to take it as I do not live here. I went to leave and she jumped on my back and scratched my face. I drove straight to the police and gave them a statement and they and I took photos of my injuries. Speaking to her she said the police had been to see her and what should she say? I said you need to admit it and then please at last, get help for your drinking.
The police called me and said after seeking legal advice she claimed it was self-defence. I asked how a 6 foot man, 13.5 stone did not inflict a mark on her and she managed to scratch my face up again. They said sorry but with no witnesses there is insufficient evidence for a criminal conviction.
After this I went home and stayed in my room for 2 weeks only leaving for occasional trips to the shop for food. After 2 weeks my doorbell rang and it was her, with my son in his buggy. He was so pleased to see me and visa-versa. Again things went back to normal but each time she started to drink I would leave. Therefore rather than every day I was now spending 4 or 5 days a week seeing my son. This is early part of 2012.
Having lost my job I could not afford the house and so moved back to my parents. I lost my company car and had to borrow my parent?s car if I was to see my son.
I was becoming increasingly worried for his safety as I was no longer able to monitor the situation. One evening she asked me if I was going to stay. I said no and she rammed a spoon of yoghurt in to my son?s mouth hard, he cried, I remonstrated with her and left. Sat in my parents car outside she came out, leaving our son on his own again, got in the car and asked if I would come back in. I didn?t answer, she then said no? Then proceeded to slap me hard across the bridge of my nose 3 times. I drove home and stayed in my room for 2 weeks again.
After lots of calls and texts I was missing our son so I started going back to see him. Because contact order was for every 2nd weekend and additional contact was at her bequest, so often it had to be in her flat, or to take them both out to museum or park or beach, essentially she had me in her pocket with my need to see my son.
Now I have broken free of her spell, she no longer has a hold on me, can no longer abuse me but I am worried sick about my son. She has no patience, is intolerant, smacks him when angered, drinks when she is alone with him, often until sick, she has a dressing gown with burn holes all over it where she smokes when drunk, she has abused me and sometimes my son over a period of years. When she is drunk she does not clear things away, leaving carving knives, lighters, alcohol etc in my son?s easy reach.
The police will not help me, social services will not help me, Cafcass didn?t? even come and see me and my solicitor says because I took the non-molestation order way back when, it is going to be difficult to get anywhere.
I am going through self-help for recovering from a narcissistic abuser as I believe she has a personality disorder, a mix between narcissistic and borderline disorder. I am suffering from anxiety through worry that the phone will go and something has happened to my son. I have got legal aid but my solicitor seems to be going through the motions.
I have so much evidence like I say, photos?, electronically dated diary entries, audio recordings and their transcripts, witness statements, my sons medical records about his foetal development and low weight and size, the folds of skin and history of poor balance that an expert would understand are linked to foetal alcohol spectrum disorder. BUT NO ONE HAS TAKEN TIME TO COME AND SEE IT!!
No-one is listening to me?.!!!
I have been an open book here. Please is there anyone who can offer support, advice. I am scared for my son, even though I am now safe, he is not.
She is a brilliant liar, face to face, but cannot back up her lies as they are just that, lies. She is charming and manipulative. I need to make sure my son is safe.
My other children will testify as would anyone who knows me that I am a fantastic, caring dad who ensures his children are loved, educated, given warmth, listened to, who has never lifted a finger to any of his children ever, and nor would I (In my mind it is nothing more than an adult losing temper and control and does not teach children anything other than if you don?t get what you want use violence).
I am applying to become a primary school teacher and I live in a house with 2 empty bedrooms. I know that my son would be better off and most importantly safe with me. I would not limit contact; if she came to see him I would be happy for her to see him as much as possible as I would know he is safe as she cannot be drunk in that type of situation.
I would be happy to give her shared residency if she got help for her drinking at last. But when alcohol is mixed with a personality disorder it is an accident waiting to happen.
I know I brought most of this on myself by my past mistakes and lack of action and low self-esteem. I?m working on that and healing and repairing.
But my son?
Anyone help me please?
How do I get my solicitor to take me seriously and become proactive and on my side?
Does the non-mol I accepted really mean I have a struggle when taking into account the evidence I have and the fact that she has no evidence against me apart from the Facebook messages and non-threatening texts?
How do I get social services to actually look at the evidence I have in my possession?
How is it that I have all of this overwhelming evidence and I am treated like this, if I was a woman and the shoe was on the other foot, I feel that I would have been treated differently and action would 100% of been taken regarding my sons wellbeing..!!
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Desperate Dad...... It's long winded but couldn't summarise anymore without
40 replies
Phil1972 · 20/01/2013 12:38
OP posts:
prettypolly1 ·
20/01/2013 12:55
Phil, your story made me cry.
You have been through so much. You did EVERYTHING you possibly could for her, and she has thrown it back in your face. Poor you and your poor little boy.
It sounds as though she has Borderline Personality Disorder. I'm not sure if you've looked into this possibility, but unfortunately I am a bit of an expert as my mother suffers from BPD.
I have no practical advice for you at the moment unfortunately. I can't believe no one is listening to you. It frustrates me so much that people think women are incapable of inflicting violent and emotional abuse against men.
The fact that you have left and will not stand for it anymore is the first step. If you had stayed with her for your son, you would be condoning her behaviour and it would do your boy no favours.
By being away from her you have the power. You cannot help your son if you have not first helped yourself. DO NOT let her draw you back in. EVER. It is not right for you, and even more so it is not right for your son.
I really do understand how worried you must be about your son. I can't even begin to imagine what you are going through, so I can't give much practical advice.
Thinking of you 
ProphetOfDoom ·
24/01/2013 19:57
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
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