Kiena Dawes’ abuser has made a shameless vow to get custody of their child after being jailed.
Last week, thug Ryan Wellings was caged for six years for the physical assault and coercive control of Kiena, 23, who tragically took her life in 2022 after two years of his abuse, reports the Mirror. On July 22 that year, the young mum was found dead on a rail line near Barnacre, Lancashire, after leaving a note citing Wellings as responsible for his death.
In a landmark turn, Wellings was charged with Kiena’s manslaughter – becoming the first Brit to be tried for the crime where a domestic abuse victim has died by suicide – but was acquitted of causing her death. Preston Crown Court heard how ‘monster’ Wellings made Kiena feel worthless and as though she were to blame for his abuse.
The 30-year-old, who also has two other children, has gallingly claimed he will attempt to seek custody of the daughter despite Kiena’s wishes she be “kept away from the monster who is called her dad”. In a sickening Facebook post made ahead of his trial, Wellings claimed he would ‘come to get’ his child once freed.
The December 2023 post, seen by The Sun, claimed: “I didn’t think I was going to make it to Christmas but I love you 3girls way to [sic] much to leave any of you behind.” Wellings, a landscape gardener from Bispham, Lancs., vowed he would have the “best Christmas” with his two daughters before adding, “once all this boll** [sic] is over, I’m coming to get you baby girl”.
Wellings will be eligible for parole halfway through his sentence and could be eligible to launch a custody battle for the couple’s daughter, who will then be around six years old. However, given his conviction for assault and abuse, this would be unlikely to turn in his favour.
Kiena’s mum, Angela Dawes, lambasted Wellings in her harrowing victim impact statement in court on Thursday, saying: “Whenever Wellings is released from prison, I will be extremely concerned that he will do this again, he is a dangerous man. I am at a loss as to consider what impact him being released from prison will have on other women and children.
“What my future holds now is being strong enough to raise her daughter. I cannot accept what has happened to Kiena and that as a result of this, she is not here. I have been robbed of my daughter.”
In traumatic details which Kiena’s family had to re-live in court, the jury in Wellings’ trial heard how he beat Kiena while she was pregnant, threatened to drown her in a bath and make her ‘look like Katie Piper’ by throwing acid at her, as well as goading her to kill herself. The remorseless thug also blew a kiss to his current partner from the dock while his verdict was delivered, in a move which Kiena’s friends said “turned their stomachs”.
Angela Dawes added in her statement, read by prosecutor Paul Greaney KC: “I have been robbed of watching my daughter live her life, and her baby girl have her Mummy. I will never get to hold any other children that Kiena may have had in the future or watch Kiena live her life as she should have.
“As her daughter grows into a young lady herself, she has been robbed herself of a Mum to go to, or when she has children herself, her own mother to turn to, but I will step into this role for Kiena. I will never be able to live a normal life due to the coercive and controlling behaviour and assaults that Kiena suffered.
“I am worried about the long-term impact of that on her daughter and me through a period of getting her used to men again after she came into my care. I truly believe that a baby should feel safe in their own home, and that this abuse will be life-long lasting for her daughter, as much as her Mummy tried to keep her safe. T
“There were times when Kiena had to flee the house with her daughter because of Welling’s behaviour. Another example is that her daughter has already asked me where her Mummy is. I have found it impossible to answer that question.”
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