Partner has an unhealthy obsession with teenage girl at his work

DEAR DEIDRE: MY partner is obsessed with a teenage girl who works at his company.

At first she tried to date his 18-year-old son but it didn’t work out. She is 17.

Now she has her sights set on my boyfriend.

He denies it but all the signs are there.

He is 53 and I am 50. We have been together for four years.

My boyfriend has a framed photo of her on his desk.

He is planning on letting her rent one of his properties as soon as he has finished renovating it.

I was with him recently and he called me by her name. He swears he didn’t, but I distinctly heard him.

They communicate all the time. I have told him I will end our relationship if he moves her into this house and that the photo he has of her is not appropriate to have on his desk.

There’s no picture of me.

My gut tells me something isn’t right. I am starting to suffer anxiety attacks over it. Am I being paranoid?

DEIDRE SAYS: He may be flattered by the attentions of a much younger woman.

But from what you have written, I agree his behaviour is inappropriate and concerning.

If you feel she is at risk it’s important to trust your gut feeling and don’t ignore what you’re noticing. You are not being paranoid.

Talk through your concerns in confidence with the NSPCC (nspcc.org.uk, 0808 800 5000).