Man denies hitting partner who died on train track

Kiena Dawes took her own life on a railway track in July 2022, the trial has heard

A man accused of driving his partner to suicide through domestic abuse and violence has denied that he hit her.

Kiena Dawes, 23, of Fleetwood, left her young daughter with a friend before taking her own life on a railway line on 22 July 2022.

The trial at Preston Crown Court has previously heard that she left a note, reading: "I was murdered. Ryan Wellings killed me."

Mr Wellings, 30, denies manslaughter and told jurors it was Ms Dawes who used to attack him and he had just restrained her during their "toxic" relationship.

He has admitted previously assaulting his former girlfriend, who is the mother of his children, but denied ever attacking Ms Dawes.

Defending, John Jones asked him about a Facebook messenger exchange in September 2021, when Ms Dawes said: "You've raised your fist at me twice this week."

The barrister said: "Had you raised your fist?"

Mr Wellings, of Bispham, said: "No. I was restraining her. When she's hitting me, I used to stop her by grabbing her arms."

The landscape gardener said he could have been "heavy-handed" when pushing her away as she attacked him.

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He said Ms Dawes, a hairdresser, had once got a black eye after he tried to fend her off in a row during a "toxic" relationship which was littered with cocaine binges, drinking and frequent break-ups.

Mr Wellings said Ms Dawes had become "insecure" after she caught him looking at escort websites while she was pregnant with their daughter.

The court heard Ms Dawes had claimed in a text message that he had put a drill to her face threatening to take her teeth out with it.

His defence barrister asked him: "Had you threatened to drill her teeth out? What reason is Kiena saying: 'I'll come at YOU with a drill.'"

"I don't know. No idea," Mr Wellings said.

The defendant also denies assault and coercive and controlling behaviour between January 2020 and July 2022.

The trial continues.