A man accused of conducting a “campaign of abuse” before his former fiancée took her own life has been found guilty of assault and controlling and coercive behaviour - but cleared of manslaughter.
Ryan Wellings went on trial accused of the manslaughter of 23-year-old Kiena Dawes after she left a suicide note naming him as her killer. The mother of a nine-month-old baby girl then lay on railway tracks where she was struck and killed by a train.
Today Wellings was told by a jury at Preston Crown Court he was not guilty of killing her after denying manslaughter, but was found guilty of assault and guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour towards Kiena. Today, as the verdicts were read, Wellings, wearing a dark suit and tie, smiled and gave the thumbs up to his family. He also blew them a kiss.
The trial was told he carried out a prolonged campaign of abuse before she was found dead on a railway track near Garstang, in Lancashire, in July 2022. The hairdresser, from Fleetwood, had vanished earlier that day after leaving her daughter with a friend along with a suicide note on her mobile phone which said she’d been “murdered” by Wellings. She suffered multiple injuries when she was struck by a Glasgow-bound train travelling at 110 mph.
Wellings, 30, from Bispham, Lancashire, who had Kiena’s name tattooed on his neck within a week of meeting her, claimed their relationship was a “loving” one, she had injured herself, and he didn’t accept his conduct caused her death, while her underlying mental health issues may have caused her to take her own life. Upsetting footage of her sobbing while pregnant after being attacked by Wellings has also been released today.
This abuse was a “significant factor” in Kiena’s decision to take her own life, it’s claimed, with Welling’s last attack coming just 11 days before she died. The jury heard about a suicide note Kiena left on her phone, which read: “The end. I fought hard, I fought long. went through pain no one could imagine. No one will know what I went through.
“I was murdered. Slowly. They tortured me, till there was nothing left. I lost my fight but I didn’t give up my battle. I fought till the end. Ryan Wellings killed me.” The note also said, “I hope my life saves another by police services acting faster” and that she wanted her daughter “kept away from the monster who is called her dad”.
Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, told the jury: “The predominant thrust of what Kiena was saying in her suicide note was that Ryan Wellings, the defendant in this trial, was responsible for her death. “Kiena’s own words, ‘Ryan Wellings killed me’ represent the prosecution’s case, namely that the death of Kiena Dawes was caused by the unlawful acts of Ryan Wellings and that he is therefore guilty of her manslaughter.”
He said that the suicide note was a “significant piece of evidence” but it wasn’t the sole or even principal basis of the prosecution’s case as Wellings had subjected her to controlling and coercive behaviour and had treated her in an “abusive way” and repeatedly physically assaulted her.
Mr Greaney said Kiena had a personality disorder that can result in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulties in relationships and Wellings “exploited this vulnerability”. The jury heard about a series of incidents in which Wellings allegedly abused Kiena, some of which she made notes about on her phone.
The couple had met in January 2020 and Mr Greaney told the jury that Welling’s abuse had begun early in their relationship and there was “pattern” in which he behaved in an “aggressive and violent” way towards her and “then apologised and showered her with affection”.
They had lived together for a time in Dorset when, it’s claimed, Wellings had tried to “strangle” her with an iPhone charger and, in another incident, thrown a stool at her and thrown her to the ground, causing her to slash her foot on broken glass.
Mr Greaney said the abuse had continued when the couple moved to Blackpool and Kiena later contacted police and reported that Wellings had given her a “black eye” while she was pregnant.
The jury also heard phone messages she sent to Wellings in which she accused him of “terrorising” her. “You’re a head f*** and you know it will ruin me,” she also wrote. "You’re a bully.”
Wellings will be sentenced on Thursday.
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.”
Two women a week killed in UK by current or former partner
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk
If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy.
For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk
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Mind
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