Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Monday, 13th January 2025, at 13:20hrs
Police are urging anyone who is in an abusive relationship to contact them or to get help from available domestic abuse organisations don’t suffer in silence
Kiena Dawes was just 23 years old when she sadly took her own life after suffering abuse from her so-called boyfriend that began as a fairytale relationship that turned into a nightmare.
Ryan wellings, a 30-year-old landscape gardener from Bispham, has today been found guilty of assault and coercive controlling behaviour following a seven week trial at Preston Crown Court.
He was found not guilty of Kienas Manslaughter. He will be sentenced later this week.
In a statement released today, Lancashire Police said:
“A man has been found guilty of assaulting and coercively controlling a Fleetwood mum who went on to take her own life.
On 22nd July 2022, Kiena was sadly found deceased by our British Transport Police colleagues on the railway line near Barnacre.
Kiena had been reported missing a short time earlier having left her young daughter with a friend, along with her mobile phone which contained a suicide note.
Kiena Dawes was a devoted and loving mother who, despite her personal challenges, was determined to give her baby girl the best life she could.
Ryan Wellings took Kiena’s love and in return launched a concerted campaign of emotional, mental and physical abuse. 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 that she would never escape him.
Kiena had the foresight to keep a hidden note on her phone, disguised as a shopping list, to record the vile, abusive things Wellings would say to her.
We would like to thank the jury for their considered verdict in what has been an extremely harrowing and complex case. While we and Kiena’s family are disappointed that they didn’t come back with a manslaughter verdict, we are pleased the jury recognised that Wellings was guilty of criminal wrongdoing by the guilty verdicts they did come back with today.
Manslaughter verdicts in these circumstances are incredibly rare but it was right that we brought this prosecution for Kiena and her loved ones.
Although today’s headlines will understandably be about Ryan Wellings, but we don’t want Kiena, the victim, to get lost or forgotten about. Kiena was a fun-loving, kind and sensitive young woman who had her whole life ahead of her. She was a mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend who died in extremely tragic circumstances.
We want to appeal directly to anyone who finds themselves in an abusive relationship or knows or suspects someone else might be. Please make contact with us or reach out to domestic abuse organisations for help and support.”
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