The mother of a convicted domestic abuser described his girlfriend who took her own life as “a very poorly girl” after he was jailed for six and half years.
Ryan Wellings was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on January 16 following the tragic death of Kiena Dawes in July 2022. In a suicide note, she referred to Wellings as a “monster,” leaving the note and their nine-month-old daughter with a friend before ending her life.
Wellings was convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behavior over a two-year period but was cleared of manslaughter after a six-week trial. Judge Robert Altham, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, condemned Wellings for making Kiena feel “worthless,” blame herself for the abuse she endured, and believe she was an “unfit mother”, reports the Mirror.
Despite the court’s findings, Wellings’ mother, Lisa Green, defended her son outside the courtroom, stating: “He is very sad about it.” Speaking about Kiena in a TikTok video, she added, “She was a very poorly girl.”
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Altham described Ms. Dawes as “a popular, vivacious, friendly, and kind young woman” and addressed the devastating impact of Wellings’ abuse. He said: “You repeatedly assaulted and abused her. You would hit her again and again. In the messages, she pleaded with you to stop. Knowing her previous suicide attempts and fragile mental health, you repeatedly told her she may as well kill herself.”
The court heard that Ms. Dawes, a hairdresser from Fleetwood, Lancashire, endured two years of violence and emotional abuse at Wellings’ hands. She had been diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder, a condition characterised by impulsivity, low self-esteem, and difficulty in relationships—vulnerabilities the prosecution argued Wellings exploited throughout their relationship.
Kiena Dawes had previously attempted suicide before her relationship with Ryan Wellings, and his legal team argued in court that her death was the result of “multiple factors.” Known for her bubbly and happy-go-lucky personality, Kiena was initially “swept off her feet” by Wellings, a landscape gardener from Bispham with a violent past, including a conviction for assaulting the mother of his twin daughters.
Within a week of meeting her, Wellings had Kiena’s name and face tattooed on his body and proposed marriage within three months. However, what began as a “fairy tale” soon turned into a “nightmare,” as Wellings’ vicious temper, combined with regular cocaine and alcohol binges, surfaced, the court heard.
Prosecutor Mr. Greaney described Wellings as an “entitled, aggressive bully,” while Kiena’s friends referred to him as a “horrible little bas****” with a jealous streak. He couldn’t stand being contradicted and subjected Kiena to relentless abuse, including slapping her, dragging her by her hair, and making grotesque threats. Jurors heard how he once threatened to use a drill to remove her teeth and to “make her look like Katie Piper” by throwing acid in her face.
During her pregnancy, Wellings’ behavior worsened. He gave Kiena a black eye, criticised her weight, and called her a “fat little b****” while contacting escorts and prostitutes online. Despite warnings from her friends and mother to “run a mile” from the “toxic” relationship, Kiena found herself trapped in a cycle of breaking up and reconciling, as Wellings manipulated her with excuses for his behavior.
Police were called on several occasions, but Kiena, fearful of his threats, refused to press charges. Wellings had warned her that their daughter would be taken away if she revealed the truth about his abuse.
In her heartbreaking suicide note, which was read to the jury, Kiena wrote: “The end. I fought hard, I fought long. I went through pain no one could imagine. I was murdered. Ryan Wellings killed me. He ruined every bit of strength I had left. I had dreams. I had a future at one point. That was taken away from me.”
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