Boyfriend of Fleetwood woman cleared of manslaughter but guilty of domestic violence

The boyfriend of a young mother who took her own life has been found guilty of assault and prolonged domestic violence but cleared of her manslaughter.

Ryan Wellings became the first defendant to be tried before a jury accused of the unlawful killing of his partner after Kiena Dawes took her own life.

The 30-year-old was found not guilty of manslaughter and guilty of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour between January 2020 and July 2022 after a six week trial at Preston Crown Court.

On 22nd July 2022, Kiena was found deceased by British Transport Police on the railway line near Barnacre.  

Kiena had been reported missing a short time earlier having left her young daughter with a friend, along with her mobile phone which contained a suicide note. 

A jury at Preston Crown Court heard how Kiena was introduced to 30-year-old Wellings in January 2020, Within the first few weeks, Wellings had Kiena’s named tattooed on his neck, and two weeks later he had a portrait of her face tattooed on the back of his left leg.

However, within a month of the relationship Wellings started to become abusive towards her, resulting in Kiena sending him a message which read: “Stop hurting me now xxxxx.”

By April 2020, Wellings had proposed to Kiena who had moved down to Dorset temporarily during Covid lockdown to stay with a friend. However during that month the same friend noticed that Wellings’ behaviour towards Kiena would change dramatically at the drop of a hat. One minute he would buy her extravagant gifts such as champagne and the next he would belittle Kiena to the extent she felt on edge around him.

The following month Kiena and Wellings moved in together. On 3rd May 2020, Kiena’s friend got a call to go to her flat. When she arrived, she found the flat had been trashed and Kiena told her that Wellings had gotten into a jealous rage and attempted to strangle her with an iPhone charger.

Kiena later made a statement to police that on 29th May 2020 Wellings had thrown a chair at her after accusing her of being unfaithful. After verbally abusing Kiena and telling her to kill herself, Wellings threw her to the floor causing her to cut her foot on some smashed glass.

He later sent her a message saying: “So disgusted in my life for scaring you like that. Never felt so s*** about myself.”

In October 2020, Kiena took out the tenancy on a flat in Fleetwood.

In December 2020 Kiena told Wellings she was leaving him. He demanded all the money from her bank account. He then assaulted her in the presence of children and Kiena ran out of the property in fear. The following day Wellings apologised, and they got back together.

Kiena fell pregnant in February 2021, and after initially appearing to be excited Wellings began to emotionally abuse Kiena on a daily basis. She believed he began to cheat on her. Such was the deterioration in Kiena’s mental health, she became suicidal.

Kiena wrote: “He would tell me no one would ever believe me about him abusing me due to my mental health. He would say he doesn't want to be with me because I'm too fat. He would say that I am stuck with him and no one else would be with me.”

Because of her vulnerable mental state, Wellings told Kiena that if she reported him to the authorities her child would be taken off her as soon as it was born.

On 17th April 2021, Kiena kicked Wellings out of the flat because he had been cheating on her. She packed all his belongings and put them outside, but that resulted in Wellings’ associates making threats, including to set her car on fire. Wellings updated his Facebook profile to show him sitting in a car, smiling and holding a lighter.

The following month Kiena – who worked as a hairdresser – told one of her customers that, during an argument in her flat Wellings had smashed up a memorial area she has made for her father who had died the previous July.

On 5th July 2021, Wellings again assaulted Kiena leaving her with a black eye.

In a statement Kiena said: ““I was about six months pregnant when Ryan gave me a black eye and he hit me to the floor. Ryan tried to explain to family it was self-defence because I was apparently insane. I rang the police straight away. Prior to police arrival he was telling me that if I continued I would get our baby taken away from us as soon as it was born and that this would all be my fault. On police arrival Ryan’s attitude changed and he put on an act, he was very pleasant. I told police it was just a verbal argument because I was scared about our baby and losing Ryan.”

Wellings later texted Kiena to say: “I’m so sorry for everything. I love you.”

On 4th August 2021, Kiena called police to say she had split up with Wellings was trying to take property from her flat. During a conversation with an officer captured on body word camera, Kiena said that Wellings had previously assaulted her and said that “he just says if I ring anyone to help that they’ll just take my kid.”

In October 2021, Kiena’s baby was born and although Wellings’ behaviour initially improved, he soon became verbally and physically abusive again.

Kiena wrote in a statement: “When the baby was born and throughout labour he was amazing with me so I thought it was perfect and to stay with him. It wasn’t long till he was hurting me again. I told him I didn’t want anything happening around the baby. I started to get hit around the head every week now even if it’s just a slap. But he’s made me believe that’s acceptable because I argue back with him. This would happen in the car, in the house, anywhere.”

Kiena later wrote in a statement that around the turn of that year, Wellings became violent again and threatened her with a drill.

She stated: “We fell out as I told him I’m not sure I want this anymore. A few days later an argument has begun and he got a drill. He turned it on and put it in my face and told me he would drill my teeth out of my mouth. He also stated that he would throw my father's ashes out the window.”

In a text exchange in January 2022, Wellings acknowledged that he had physically assaulted Kiena and accepted that it was wrong stating: “I’m sorry for that really no excuse for it xx.”

Kiena later described an incident at the start of Marach 2022 where Wellings dunked her head in a baby bath during an argument. She said that incident left her feeling suicidal.

Four days later Kiena made an entry in the notes section of her iPhone of all the abusive and threatening thing Wellings had said to her.

She stated Wellings had said to her at separate times: “I’m going to make your life hell,” “You think your life is hell now when the baby gets here I’ll make it hell,” “I will smash this flat to bits,” “I better stop those tears of he will,” and “No one will want me because I have stretch marks.”

She added: “I put a picture on Instagram so he said he will throw acid all over my face and watch it burn, I’ll never be able to take selfie’s again.”

On 13th June 2022, Wellings and Kiena got into an argument after he used aftershave from her late father’s memory box – something she had asked him not to do in the past. During that argument, Wellings assaulted Kiena.

Two days later a witness saw Wellings being verbally abusive and aggressive towards Kiena while they were sat in her car at traffic lights.

On 11th July 2022 Wellings subjected Kiena to such a serious assault, it rendered her unconscious.

In a 999 call, she said: “It’s a domestic violence. He’s knocked me out, but I’ve just woken up on the floor. There’s blood everywhere, but I can’t get the baby because I’m covered in blood.”

During the attack Wellings removed the remote for a panic alarm which police had previously fitted so Kiena was uncertain how to activate it and summon help.

Wellings later blamed Kiena for the assault.

Wellings was arrested later same day and released on bail with conditions not to contact Kiena.

On 17th July Wellings rang Kiena off another person’s phone and began threatening her.

An officer did speak to Kiena the following day about this call. However, Wellings was not arrested.

Wellings, now of no fixed address but last of Houseman Close, Blackpool, will be sentenced at the same court on Thursday 16th January 2025.

DCI Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Police, said: “Kiena Dawes was a devoted and loving mother who, despite her personal challenges, was determined to give her baby girl the best life she could.

“Ryan Wellings took Kiena’s love and in return launched a concerted campaign of emotional, mental and physical abuse. Over a two-and-a-half-year period, Wellings broke her spirit.

“He isolated Kiena, belittled and abused her, controlled her, subjected her to violence and made her believe that she would never escape him.

“I would like to thank the jury for their considered verdict in what has been an extremely harrowing and complex case. While we and Kiena’s family are disappointed that they didn’t come back with a manslaughter verdict, we are pleased the jury recognised that Wellings was guilty of criminal wrongdoing by the guilty verdicts they did come back with today.

“I want to praise the Dawes’ family for the dignified manner in which they have behaved during this highly emotional trial. Day after day they have sat in court and listened to the truly abhorrent way in which Wellings behaved towards Kiena.

“While lessons will undoubtedly be learned from this case, I want to take this opportunity to appeal directly to anyone who finds themself in an abusive relationship or knows or suspects someone else might be. Please make contact with the authorities or reach out to domestic abuse organisations for help and support.

“Although today’s headlines will understandably be about Ryan Wellings and today’s verdict, I don’t want Kiena, the victim, to get lost or forgotten about. Kiena was a fun-loving, kind and sensitive young woman who had her whole life ahead of her. She was a mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend who died in extremely tragic circumstances.”