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

Who is Ryan Wellings?published at 13:34 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Police handout
Ryan Wellings is described as a landscape gardner but the trial heard he was unable to hold down work and had left 22 jobs.
The 30-year-old, who shared a daughter with Kiena Dawes, claimed £15,000 in Covid loans during lockdown which he spent on hotels, £1,800 golf clubs and drugs, the court heard.
Jurors heard he had assaulted a previous girlfriend after losing his temper in 2019.
He had admitted an offence of battery following the incident, during which he also damaged her car and tried to hit his father, the trial heard.
When he was arrested, the jury heard he told the officer: "It's all kicked off. I've been at a party and taken loads of coke.
"I have a problem."
He also admitted having punched a friend after a night out in August 2023.
'Trapped and confused': Police bodycam footage of Kiena Dawespublished at 13:25 Greenwich Mean Time
The young mother is shown on police bodycam footage speaking to police officers in her home about the domestic abuse she was suffering at the hands of Wellings, weeks before she took her own life.
In the footage, she says she feels "trapped and confused" because "he is nice sometimes but he's so bad sometimes".
Wellings first to face trial accused of unlawful killing of partner who took her own lifepublished at 13:19 Greenwich Mean Time
Ryan Wellings, from Bispham in Lancashire, became the first defendant to face trial before a jury accused of the unlawful killing of his partner after Kiena Dawes, 23, took her own life following domestic violence.
As a reminder, Wellings was cleared of Kiena's manslaughter at Preston Crown Court on Monday, but is due to be sentenced for assault and prolonged domestic violence.
Only one other defendant has been convicted in such circumstances before, Nicholas Allen, but he pleaded guilty to the charge in 2017, so didn't face a trial.
Allen was jailed for 10 years for the manslaughter of Justene Reece, who killed herself as a "direct result" of his behaviour.
'Fairytale turned into a nightmare'published at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Family handout
Kiena Dawes had suffered two years of violence and abuse at the hands of Wellings, the trial heard.
She was "swept off her feet" when she first met him in January 2020 and he proposed marriage within three months, her mother Angela Dawes told Preston Crown Court.
But the "fairytale" turned into a "nightmare" with Wellings, who her mother said had a vicious temper and regularly binged on cocaine and alcohol.
Jurors heard Wellings gave Ms Dawes a black eye while she was pregnant with their child.
Who was Kiena Dawes?published at 13:07 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Family handout
Kiena Dawes was a 23-year-old mother from Fleetwood.
The hairdresser had an eight-month-old daughter with Ryan Wellings when she took her own life in July 2022.
Kiena's mother, Angela Dawes, described her as "a rare gem, she brought so much love and kindness to this world".
Kiena Dawes' abusive partner to be sentencedpublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Family handout
Ryan Wellings, the boyfriend of Kiena Dawes - a young mother who took her own life - is due to be sentenced today after being found guilty of assault and prolonged domestic violence.
This article will contain distressing details and graphic images
Ms Dawes, 23, took her own life in July 2022 after leaving her eight-month-old daughter with a friend, Preston Crown Court heard.
Her sister wept and her mother looked straight ahead as Wellings was cleared of manslaughter at the same court on Monday.
Speaking outside the court, her mother said: "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'."
Wellings' 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.
The sentencing is due to start at 14:00 GMT and we'll be bringing you the latest updates from inside the courtroom. Stay with us.