Boyfriend threated woman with drill, court told

Angela Dawes says her daughter was "swept off her feet" when she first met Ryan Wellings

A woman allegedly driven to kill herself by her partner had told her mother he had threatened to throw acid in her face and "drill her teeth out", a court has heard.

Kiena Dawes, 23, from Fleetwood, Lancashire, died on a railway line in July 2022 after allegedly suffering years of abuse by partner Ryan Wellings, who is being tried for her manslaughter.

Angela Dawes said she had told her daughter to "run a mile" from 30-year-old Mr Wellings, Preston Crown Court was told.

Mr Wellings, of Bispham, Lancashire, denies manslaughter, assault, and coercive and controlling behaviour.

Hairdresser Miss Dawes left her nine-month-old daughter with a friend, along with a note, before taking her life on 22 July 2022.

Miss Dawes, who had a history of fragile mental health, wrote "I was murdered" in the note, and that Mr Wellings had "killed me".

Mrs Dawes said her daughter was "swept off her feet" after Mr Wellings had a tattoo of her name on his neck within days of meeting her in January 2020.

He proposed within three months, and she accepted, the jury heard.

Mrs Dawes said: "I fear Kiena thought this was romantic and the fairytale she wanted."

But Mrs Dawes said she soon heard Mr Wellings had attacked her daughter.

Miss Dawes had told her mother he had thrown her over a glass table, leaving her bruised.

'Drill her teeth out'

Mrs Dawes told the court: "I said to Ryan, 'You hurt my baby, my daughter'.

"I said to him, 'Look at her? How can you hurt her?'

"He said, 'I’m sorry. I’ll get help'.

"I told her to run a mile. I said, 'That’s not OK'."

But the violence continued, Mrs Dawes said.

She described another incident when Mr Wellings wanted £50 from Miss Dawes.

Mrs Dawes said: "He dragged her by the hair to the floor. He dragged her around like a ragdoll.

"He was controlling her by then. Her whole life revolved around Ryan. Everything.

"She had to do everything Ryan said. All the time."

She said that at six or seven months pregnant in 2021, Miss Dawes was given a black eye by Mr Wellings because he did not like the type of shower gel she had bought.

Mrs Dawes said her daughter had told her Mr Wellings had put a drill to her mouth and "threatened to drill her teeth out".

Acid threat

Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, asked Mrs Dawes: "Did Kiena ever tell you about whether Ryan might do something to affect her appearance? What did he say he would do?"

Mrs Dawes said he had said he "would throw acid in her face".

The defendant, of Bispham, Lancashire, claims the allegations are either untrue or exaggerated, and any injuries Miss Dawes suffered before her death were either a result of his attempts to restrain her, or accidental.

The trial continues.