Abusive man cleared of partner's manslaughter

Ryan Wellings was found guilty of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour

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, from Bispham in Lancashire, became the first defendant to be tried before a jury accused of the unlawful killing of his partner after Kiena Dawes, 23, took her own life following domestic violence.

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

Wellings, who had denied all charges, made no reaction as the verdicts were read out.

Jurors heard Kiena Dawes had suffered two years of violence and abuse at the hands of Wellings

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Ms Dawes' sister wept and her mother looked straight ahead as Wellings was cleared of manslaughter.

Wellings, who will be sentenced on 16 January, smiled and blew a kiss to his current girlfriend in the public gallery as he was led away.

Only one other defendant has been convicted in such circumstances before, Nicholas Allen, who admitted before his trial in 2017 to the manslaughter of his partner, Justene Reece.

Speaking outside court, Ms Dawes's mother, Angela Dawes, said it was "impossible to put into words" the impact of her daughter's death on all who knew and loved her.

"Kiena was a rare gem, she brought so much love and kindness to this world," she added.

"I truly hope that no other young lady or child has to go through what [Wellings] did to my daughter. I just wish with all my heart that I could bring her back and say, 'it's OK, you're safe now'."

She said Wellings' convictions "clearly demonstrate that the perpetrators of domestic abuse will be held to account".

During the trial the jury heard Ms Dawes, a hairdresser, from Fleetwood in Lancashire, left a note saying "I was murdered" and that Wellings had "killed [her]" before taking her own life on 22 July 2022.

The defence said her medical records showed she had a history of mental health problems starting from the age of 13, frequent drug and alcohol use, thoughts of suicide and attempts to take her own life before and after she met Wellings.

Jurors heard Ms Dawes had suffered two years of violence and abuse at the hands of Wellings.

She had been diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder, resulting in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulty in relationships, a condition allegedly exploited by the defendant.

Wellings told jurors he had never intentionally hit Ms Dawes, adding that any injuries she had sustained were the result of him "restraining" her when she attacked him.

'Fairy tale turned nightmare'

Ms Dawes first met Wellings in January 2020 and was "swept off her feet", her mother had told the court.

Wellings, who also had a previous conviction for assaulting another partner, had Ms Dawes' name and face tattooed on his body within a week of meeting her, and proposed marriage within three months.

But Ms Dawes later said her "fairy tale" turned into a "nightmare" with Wellings, who had a vicious temper and regularly binged on cocaine and alcohol.

The abuse was detailed to the jury in hundreds of text messages between them, and from Ms Dawes to her friends.

Wellings told jurors he had never intentionally hit her, adding that any injuries Ms Dawes had sustained were the result of him "restraining" her

Described by prosecutor Paul Greaney KC as an "entitled, aggressive bully" and by Ms Dawes' friends as "horrible" with a jealous streak, the jury heard Wellings did not like being answered back - which "triggers his anger".

His abuse of Ms Dawes included regular slapping and pulling her hair, and threats to use a drill to take out her teeth, and "make her look like Katie Piper" by throwing acid in her face, the jury heard.

He was unable to hold down work, securing and leaving 22 jobs and draining her of money while she worked two jobs.

Wellings claimed £15,000 in Covid loans during lockdown which he spent on hotels, £1,800 golf clubs and drugs.

After she became pregnant, Wellings gave Ms Dawes a black eye and began criticising her weight while contacting sex workers online, the jury heard.

Friends and her mother, Angela Dawes, warned her to "run a mile" from "toxic" Wellings.

More than once police were called, but Wellings threatened Ms Dawes that she would have their daughter taken off them if she told them what was happening, so she declined to help prosecute him.

Wellings told jurors "I'm not a monster", but did admit getting "heavy handed" with his partner.

A final attack "broke" Ms Dawes, leaving her needing hospital treatment. This time she did make a statement to police and her tormentor was arrested, but broke his bail conditions but was not locked up, leaving her feeling let down by police.

Four days later she took her own life.

Three Lancashire Police officers face disciplinary hearings, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

DCI Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Police, said after the verdict that Wellings "took Kiena's love and in return launched a concerted campaign of emotional, mental and physical abuse", and over a two-and-a-half-year period "broke her spirit".

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

He said: "While we and Kiena's family are disappointed [the jury] they didn't come back with a manslaughter verdict, we are pleased the jury recognised Wellings was guilty of criminal wrongdoing by the guilty verdicts they did come back with."

He praised Ms Dawes's family for their dignified manner throughout the "highly emotional trial".

He said Ms Dawes was a "fun-loving, kind and sensitive young woman" as well as a "devoted and loving mother" who died in "extremely tragic circumstances".

The trial heard Wellings threatened Ms Dawes that she would have their daughter taken off them if she told police what was happening

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Winstanley said: "I hope these guilty verdicts give [Kiena's loved ones] some sense justice has been done."

He added: "We will seek to learn any lessons we can from Kiena's tragic death so that we can continue to deliver on our commitment to the communities of Lancashire that we will put victims of crime and vulnerable people at the heart of everything we do."

A Crown Prosecution Service spokeswoman said it was a "tragic case where a young mother lost her life".

"The jury, having heard all the evidence, found Wellings guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour and not guilty of manslaughter."

She added: "We respect the jury's decision."

After the six-week trial, it emerged that Wellings' mother and girlfriend were both under police investigation for allegedly "coaching" him to give evidence.

Before the jury returned to court on the first day back after Christmas, prosecutor Paul Greaney KC told the trial judge, the Honorary Recorder of Preston Robert Altham, that Wellings had repeatedly discussed the content and nature of his evidence with his mother and new partner, despite not legally being allowed to do so.

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