Ryan Wellings sentencing live: Kiena Dawes' abusive partner being sentenced - follow live

Summary

Ryan Wellings has been handed a six year jail sentence for assault and prolonged domestic violence following the death of his former partner Kiena Dawes, he was cleared of manslaughter earlier in the week
He has also been handed an additional six month sentence for an offence of actual bodily harm on his friend Scott Fletcher
In his sentencing remarks, the judge says that "given the gravity of the offending there's no prospect of a sentence other than immediate custody"
Kiena's mother, Angela Dawes, says she is worried about the future impact on Kiena's daughter while her brother, Kynan Dawes, says "the world now knows what a monster Wellings is"
Kiena Dawes, 23, took her own life in July 2022 after leaving her eight-month-old daughter with a friend, she left a note claiming "I was murdered", the court heard
This page contains distressing details

Live Reporting

Edited by Rachael Lazaro and Emily McGarvey with Fiona Trott and Erica Witherington reporting from Preston Crown Court

'The world knows what a monster he is,' says Kiena's brotherpublished at 15:06 Greenwich Mean Time
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Preston Crown Court
Paul Greaney KC is now reading the victim impact statement of Kiena’s brother, Kynan Dawes, who says he "finds it disgusting that men hit women".
"I hope this sentencing will show people it’s not OK. The trauma has been made worse by Ryan Wellings showing absolutely no remorse about how he treated her," he says.
He adds: "At least now he can spend the rest of his life being viewed as an abuser and someone who beats up women.
"The world now knows what a monster he is.
"Kiena, I love you, I miss you every second. Give dad a hug from me."
'It breaks my heart that Kiena's daughter will grow up without her mummy'published at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Preston Crown Court
The court is now hearing the statement from Kiena's grandmother, Irene Ball.
She says: “Kiena had the most beautiful smile - a smile I'll never forget."
Image source, Family handout
Image caption,
Kiena Dawes
"I noticed times her smile was false, but she was always trying to reassure me, saying I’m ok grandma," she says.
“I know she did this to me to protect me, like when I was having chemotherapy."
"It was extremely shocking to see Kiena hurt, with injuries to her beautiful face. I've been sickened by what I've seen and heard in court. Hearing what she has been subjected to has disgusted me so much I've sobbed," the statement continues.
“It breaks my heart that Kiena's daughter will grow up without her mummy."
'This has been a trauma in itself'published at 14:55 Greenwich Mean Time
Angela Dawes also says she felt Wellings' prosecution had “violated” her daughter again, in the statement read on her behalf.
She adds: “I have had to sit through an almost six-week trial and watch the private life of my daughter pulled apart and her mental health scrutinised and assessed. She has been violated. There is no other word for it.
“It has also been extremely traumatic for me to see Kiena so upset talking to police officers and to look back retrospectively at her so helpless in life and reaching out for help, knowing what ultimately happened to her.
“Watching videos of her crying and upset whilst also pregnant or cuddling her baby has been horrific.
“It is hard enough to watch videos of her having fun and laughing. Ryan Wellings has put me through all that. He could have pleaded guilty to the offences and we would never have faced all that, with the eyes of the public on us all. This has been a trauma in itself.”
Kiena's mum 'worried about long-term impact' on her grandchildpublished at 14:55 Greenwich Mean Time
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Preston Crown Court
Angela Dawes says it will be "a privilege and honour to raise my daughter’s child".
She says the child has separation anxiety since the death of Kiena.
"[The baby] was exposed to and experienced extreme domestic abuse and violence against her mummy."
She says she is "worried about the long-term impact" on her grandchild.
"[The child] has already asked me where her mummy is. I found it impossible to answer that question.”
Image source, Family photograph
Quote Message
I truly believe a baby should be safe in her own home and this will have a life long effect on her."
Angela Dawes, Kiena Dawes' mother
'I suffer from nightmares,' says Kiena's mumpublished at 14:49 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, PA
Angela Dawes, Kiena's mother, is looking at the floor as the court hears how her own health has suffered.
In her statement, which is being read to the court, she says: “I’ve sought medical support. I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety. I suffer from nightmares and find simple things like TV programmes can trigger memories.”
Wellings' previous convictions include 'battering an ex'published at 14:46 Greenwich Mean Time
Wellings had previous convictions from the age of 16, the court hears, including for burglary, criminal damage and battering an ex-girlfriend before he met Kiena Dawes.
Abuse happened at home when baby was present, court hearspublished at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time
Fiona Trott
Reporting from Preston Crown Court
The court now hears about some aggravating features of the assault on Kiena Dawes.
It happened in the home, where the baby was, and a door was used to inflict injury on Kiena. She asked for Wellings’ help but he refused, and blamed her instead.
Judge queries why sentence should fall in most severe categorypublished at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Preston Crown Court
The judge is querying with the prosecution why they’ve said sentencing should fall in the most severe category - A1.
The defence have submitted it should fall in a lower category of severity - B2 - with a lower starting sentence.
Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC submits that the defence "is wrong".
"They fail to recognise the vulnerable nature of Kiena, and that it was obvious to the defendant that she was vulnerable."
The court has heard Kiena had a psychological disorder, and was pregnant during much of the abuse.
'Exceptionally serious example of offence' - prosecutorpublished at 14:31 Greenwich Mean Time
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Preston Crown Court
Regarding the offence of coercive behaviour, Paul Greaney KC tells the court: "This represents an exceptionally serious example of an offence of this type."
"This was violence and psychological abuse of a vulnerable young woman over the course of two years," he adds.
Court hears text message claims of abuse during pregnancypublished at 14:29 Greenwich Mean Time
Fiona Trott
Reporting from Preston Crown Court
The court hears that when Kiena was pregnant, she sent a message to Wellings that said: “You’ve raised your fist twice to me this week. You’ll never change.”
'Wellings set the scene for her death' - prosecutorpublished at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Preston Crown Court
Paul Greaney KC tells the judge that although the jury did not convict Wellings of manslaughter, the court should sentence him on the basis his coercive crimes towards Dawes "set the scene for her death".
"Kiena was caused to feel - on many occasions - serious alarm and distress," says Greaney.
"This had a substantial effect on her and caused her significant psychological harm.”
Wellings threatened Dawes with drill and acid, court toldpublished at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time
Fiona Trott
Reporting from Preston Crown Court
The court has been reminded about the threats that Wellings made to Kiena Dawes; he held a drill to her face and said he wanted to drill out her teeth.
He also threatened to throw acid in her face.
Kiena’s mum Angela is currently looking around the courtroom, taking it all in.
Maximum length of sentence being discussedpublished at 14:21 Greenwich Mean Time
Fiona Trott
Reporting from Preston Crown Court
Paul Greaney KC tells the judge that while coercive and controlling behaviour has a maximum sentence of five years, the Crown submits the case is one involving higher culpability because the defendant’s conduct was intended to maximise Kiena’s fear and distress.
Prosecutor speaks of severity of Wellings' abusepublished at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Preston Crown Court
The lead prosecutor in the trail, Paul Greaney KC, is on his feet.
He is making submissions to the judge around the severity of the domestic abuse crimes of which Wellings has been convicted.
Judge enters courtroompublished at 14:09 Greenwich Mean Time
Judge Robert Altham has entered the courtroom at Preston Crown Court and Ryan Wellings' sentencing is about to begin.
Wellings has appeared in the dock, wearing a suit and tie.
We'll be bringing you the key lines as we get them. Stay with us.
Courtroom fills up for Wellings' sentencingpublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time
Fiona Trott
Reporting from Preston Crown Court
It is a busy courtroom ahead of the sentencing of Ryan Wellings.
Lawyers have just arrived in Court 10, and some journalists are having to sit where the jury would normally be during a trial.
Kiena Dawes’ mum Angela has just sat down in the public gallery, staring ahead, as we wait for the judge.
Three police officers face misconduct hearings as Wellings' mother and girlfriend under investigationpublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time
Three police officers are facing misconduct hearings following the death of a young mother who had suffered prolonged domestic abuse.
One Lancashire Police officer faces disciplinary charges for alleged gross misconduct while two others are accused of misconduct in connection with contact Kiena, from Fleetwood, had with police before her death.
Meanwhile, Wellings' mother Lisa Green and girlfriend Emma Scott are under police investigation for allegedly "coaching" him on how to give evidence during his six-week trial.
'A rare gem': Kiena brought so much love and kindness to this world, says mumpublished at 13:57 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, PA Media
Angela Dawes said it was "impossible to put into words" the impact of her daughter's death on all who knew and loved her.
Speaking outside Preston Crown Court on Monday, she said: "Kiena was a rare gem, she brought so much love and kindness to this world.
"I truly hope that no other young lady or child has to go through what [Wellings] did to my daughter."
She said Wellings' convictions "clearly demonstrate the perpetrators of domestic abuse will be held to account".
As a reminder, Wellings has been found guilty of assault and prolonged domestic violence but cleared of Kiena's manslaughter.
'There’s blood everywhere': Wellings attacked Kiena days before death - policepublished at 13:47 Greenwich Mean Time
Warning: Contains distressing image.
Just days before Kiena took her own life, Wellings subjected her to such a serious assault it rendered her unconscious, Lancashire Police say.
In a police statement, she said Welling "launched" her into a bathroom radiator causing it to break from the wall and slammed the door towards her, hitting her head, causing her to black out and cut her head.
During the attack, Wellings removed the remote for a panic alarm which police had previously fitted so Kiena was uncertain how to activate it and summon help.
A police officer who attended the scene said Kiena was "covered in blood" and had a cut to the right side of her head and she was upset and crying.
Wellings later blamed Kiena for the assault.
Image source, Police handout
Quote Message
It’s a domestic violence. He’s knocked me out, but I’ve just woken up on the floor. There’s blood everywhere, but I can’t get the baby because I’m covered in blood.
Kiena Dawes' 999 call
Wellings' campaign of abuse broke Kiena's spirit, Lancashire Police saypublished at 13:40 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Family handout
Lancashire Police said Wellings had taken Kiena's love and "in return launched a concerted campaign of emotional, mental and physical abuse".
Det Ch Insp Andy Fallows said that, 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 she would never escape him," he added.