My ex is taking me to a small claims court...

Thrugelmir

bluebell1998 said:

 I also have text messages sent to me from unknown numbers stating they will come for me if I don’t pay up. 

Have you saved the texts? 

waamo

bluebell1998 said:

@waamo I’m trying to see if I can get a look of my response, but I had just stated that the situation was unfair due to the circumstances of our relationship and I refuse to pay anything other to him. 

Ok so you got something in at least and that does form the basis of some sort of defence. You can expand fully in your witness statement. This is essentially a story of what happened and why you shouldn't pay. Talk about the threats (those text messages will be useful) and coercion.

Make sure you submit it in plenty of time. He has to have a copy too don't forget.

ZaSa1418

Just because you haven't reported it to the police before doesn't mean you can't do it now.  There is no right or wrong when it comes to reporting domestic abuse, it's never just as easy as reporting it as soon as it happens and walking away. 

sourcrates

You can’t have two Loan agreements for the same loan.

If the original debt was in his name, then that takes precedence, anyone can scribble a note saying you must pay this or that, dosen`t make it enforceable, your defence should have been its not your debt and you were coerced into paying it.

Galloglass

@bluebell1998

If you have a date for any hearing, then you will have had the court's instructions. In those instructions (usually point 6) will be a comment about exchange of information either by a certain date or by 14 days before the [phone] hearing date. This is called a Witness Statement (WS).

https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/standard-directions/general/witness-statements

A WS is just the details of the case in a timeline. On xx/xx/xx this was said. On xx/xx/xx he (the claimant) said that and I agreed to this based on the statement of xx/xx/xx and so on. You attached all the evidence you have as you can't return to the court later. The judge can only decide on what you have said in your statement and what you have provided as evidence.

95% of people do not turn up to court so by getting there, you are 1 jump ahead. Of the 5% of people that do turn up, very few have a Statement or evidence so by having both, you are 2 jumps ahead. It is the person with the paperwork that usually wins.

Can you confirm what it says about "exchange"?

Dr_Crypto

If someone is sending you threatening messages that should be reported to the police. 
Make sure you have copies of the messages. The judge will be very interested to see them. 

ciderboy2009

OP - has the hearing been listed as a conference or is it actually in the court?  If the latter then it might be worth you contacting the court to let them know a bit about the history and ask them if they have a separate room you can use whilst waiting for the hearing. 

As previously mentioned - contact the relevant charities.  They may be able to arrange for somebody to attend the hearing with you

phillw

waamo said:
Ok so you got something in at least and that does form the basis of some sort of defence. You can expand fully in your witness statement. This is essentially a story of what happened and why you shouldn't pay. Talk about the threats (those text messages will be useful) and coercion.

It certainly needs expanding on, otherwise he could turn up in court saying he took out a loan for a flat and furniture and then you threw him out out and he is left paying the bills, which you originally said you would pay but now refuse, while you keep the flat and furniture. Him drinking or cheating on doesn't make much difference.
Threatening to sue someone for money is not illegal, only threats of physical harm.
If you have evidence of threats to harm you or when he beat you up then that would help your case.

Dr_Crypto

phillw said:

Threatening to sue someone for money is not illegal, only threats of physical harm.

It could be if the obtained a restraining order against him. They can be specified in such a way that he'd have to have leave from the court granting the order to do it. 

bluebell1998

To everyone asking what my defence was. I went with agreeing to pay half of the loan as that is what I originally was intending to do when in the relationship. I just don’t agree with being manipulated into paying the full amount and being left to pay for a flat I couldn’t afford and wouldn’t of agreed to not being under duress. It’s not the ideal option but I feel I would win my case with agreeing to pay half.