MY EX FAKED HIS DEATH... THEN BLAMED ME

Lindy Muirhead, 46, was being hounded by a former boyfriend - then he stooped to a new low

- JOE WALKER, MISHAAL KHAN

Half-asleep, I rolled over, pulling the duvet over my shoulder.

Just then, something jabbed me hard in my back, and I turned around to see my boyfriend Ben, then 36, staring at me menacingly.

‘Did you just punch me?’ I asked. ‘You were hogging the covers,’ he snapped.

Without another word, I got out of bed and gathered my belongings. It was December 2021. It was 5am, but I didn't care - I'd had enough. Before Ben had a chance to stop me, I was driving home to my own bed.

We'd only been together three months, but I was already having my doubts. We'd met online and Ben had charmed me with his constant compliments but, just to be on the safe side, I used Clare's Law to check Ben didn’t have a violent or abusive past, like I always did when I met someone new.

When it came back clear, I introduced him to my daughters, then 20, 16 and 13, who didn’t seem overly keen, but said they'd support whatever made me happy.

UPS AND DOWNS

But soon, me and Ben were having silly disagreements. He'd fly off the handle over nothing, like rolling over in bed!

The next day, Ben called, apologising. ‘I'm sorry, it won't happen again,’ he begged. Believing he meant it, I decided to give him another chance.

But Ben’s mood was volatile.