need some advise desperatly

i have recently split from my partner and he is threatening to take my daugher of me and says i cant even go out as he'll get her! his parents have loads of money which i dont and so he reckons that if he takes me to court he'll win her!
he left me for 6 months when i was pregnant and came back the day i was in labour. after i gave birth he left after a couple of hours and i didnt see him again for a couple of weeks. i took him back as i had just had his baby and wanted my daughter to grow up with her dad involved. he did nothing to help me with her and never even spent a penny on her. i still dont get anything from him now for her. it's always been like i am a single parent.
i recently split up with him as i'd had enough of being unhappy and left to do everything on my own, plus i thought it would be better for my daughter who is now 13 months, if we werent together as we constantly argued and sometimes it got vilolent which my daughter does not need to see!
he recently admitted to sleeping with my sister who at the time was 15 and he was 20. i find this sickening as i was abused as a child.
he has only been to her twice since we broke up as he reckons he is far too busy but he doesnt work. the last time i saw him we argued as i wouldnt let him take my daughter out on his own - can you blame me!
ive never once tried to stop him seeing her and still wouldnt, but only with someone present at all times as i really do not trust him!
im wondering whether it is worth trying to go for sole custody for her but need some advice as not sure if im going to far!! he really hasnt done anything for her in her whole life and i dont think he ever would. he just constantly lies and lets people down and i really dont want him to let my daughter down as she really dont deserve it! none of this is her fault!
please help me and give me advise as to what i should do......... im so confused!!!

A dead beat dad--and you are worried about "going too far"?? As a recently widowed woman with seven children, I do understand your fears of being a "single parent". But, it is even more cruel to have a parent that comes and goes in a child's life. You need to act immediately to establish custody and child support. That isn't "going too far"--it is protecting you and your child.

You can't afford NOT to hire an attorney.