Thanks for your reply rainyday - I was away from the site for a while and only started posted again in recent weeks - just spotted your reply when looking through my old posts...

Yes I think the estate was (is) definitely a big factor... my mum's doing a lot better now but since I posted here last, he made a phone call to my mum asking her to change over the deeds of the house into his name and when my mum said she didn't want to discuss it - he swore at her and abruptly ended the call. He's phoned her once or twice since but never offered to help out.

Things aren't going to be mended with my family anytime soon, especially now it seems there are underlying financial issues - but for now, it's all stable. So I'm grateful for that.

It's helped get some perspective on things reading back what I posted a year ago... I'm so glad things have moved on from there - I was in a vulnerable position then, as was my mum, and he seized on that. At least I'm more prepared now if anything similar happens in future.