FD25P00003 - [2025] EWHC 827 (Fam)

H’s parents met through an online dating app in 2019 when KS was visiting the Philippines. They continued a long-distance relationship once he returned to England, and in August 2022 he went back to the Philippines and moved in with FB, her son from another relationship, G, who is now aged 16 and her parents. KS worked remotely for his family’s business. FB works mainly from home as a manager in a call centre. H was born in September 2023. In August 2024 FB, KS, G and H moved to live as a family in a rental property, having signed a lease for two years.

I am asked to make findings as to the existence and nature of domestic abuse within the parents’ relationship. It will be evident from what follows that I have tended to prefer KS’s evidence over that of FB on this matter, and that I consider FB has not been truthful in certain material parts of her evidence. I have reminded myself that even if a witness lies about one matter, it does not automatically follow that they have been generally untruthful, and that the reasons why people lie can be relevant in assessing their credibility.

KS says that FB was controlling and had ‘a real issue with me having any female friends, colleagues or acquaintances…if she believes that I have looked at or interacted with another woman, she becomes extremely angry and is domestically violent to me, both physically and verbally’. He also says that she would become angry and abusive if she felt he was not paying her sufficient respect or doing what she asked. This is borne out by contemporaneous messages and photos of injuries sustained by KS in 2023 and 2024. For example: