DEAR DEIDRE: MY girlfriend’s seven-year-old little girl accused me of hitting her but I would never lay a finger on her.

I’m in a gay relationship. When my girlfriend’s daughter doesn’t get her own way, she kicks off. She’s spoilt and manipulative.

This most recent upset happened because she was about to run into the road in front of a lorry. We’d been to the park and her hood was all I could grab to stop her. I did not hit her.

She was shocked because it was a near miss. She started crying and ran home, telling her mum I’d lashed out. My girlfriend told me to pack my bags and leave. 

I pleaded my innocence, but my girlfriend wouldn’t listen. I’ve been staying with my brother until last night when she texted saying that her daughter had admitted she lied.

My girlfriend says she loves me and wants me to go home. She said that she “panicked and didn’t want her daughter to be taken away if there was abuse in our home”.

She didn’t listen to my version of events though. I’m angry. I saved her daughter from possibly being killed. 

We are both 31. I love my girlfriend but I find her daughter difficult to live with.

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DEIDRE SAYS: Most parents are protective of their children and as a stepparent, you were trying to do the same.

It would be a shame for your relationship to crumble over one incident. Talk it through. Try to develop a better understanding of how to co-parent.

This little girl may have been a witness to her parents splitting up and knows how to play one parent off against the other.

But with a united front over rules and boundaries, she’ll soon understand that she can’t do this with the two of you.

My support pack called Blended Family Problems will show you how to move forward and where to find emotional support.