Latest news with #KienaDawes
Daily Mail
03-08-2025
- Daily Mail
'Monster' who abused fiancée Kiena Dawes before she took her own life is arrested behind bars alongside mother and new lover on suspicion they 'coached him to give evidence'
A controlling 'monster' locked up for abusing his fiancée before she took her own life and blamed him 'from beyond the grave' was arrested alongside his mother and new girlfriend, the Daily Mail can reveal. Ryan Wellings, 31, was jailed for six-and-a-half years in January after he was convicted of subjecting new mother Kiena Dawes, 23, to years of sickening domestic abuse and brutal violence. Ms Dawes took her own life on July 22 2022 and wrote in her suicide note that she was 'murdered', adding: 'Ryan Wellings killed me... He ruined every bit of strength I had left. I didn't deserve it. I didn't ask for it.' In a case which sparked nationwide debate, Wellings became the first defendant in England to face trial for the unlawful killing of his partner after her suicide following domestic violence. Wellings, a landscape gardener from Bispham, Lancashire, was convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour - but cleared of manslaughter. In a final insult to Ms Dawes and her family, the unrepentant abuser blew a kiss to his new girlfriend, Emma Croft, as the verdict was read out. The Daily Mail can reveal that Wellings, his mother Lisa Green, and Ms Croft were all arrested for allegedly perverting the course of justice. Ms Green and Ms Croft were released under investigation, while Wellings was hauled back behind bars while inquiries continue. The trial at Preston Crown Court heard how 28-year-old Ms Croft, from Blackpool, and 52-year-old Ms Green, from Bispham, had allegedly been 'coaching' Wellings to give evidence. Wellings made a series of 'calls' to the pair who had both attended the trial to support him from the public gallery. The abuser, while being held at HMP Preston, was entitled to speak to family and friends but was not legally permitted to discuss his case with them while giving evidence. But the prosecution said it was made aware of calls made where evidence was allegedly being discussed between them. Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC told the court in January: 'He has repeatedly discussed the content and nature of the evidence with Emma Croft and Lisa Green, during giving evidence and over the Christmas period. 'The assessment of the prosecution is that the defendant has misconducted himself, as has Lisa Green and Emma Croft. 'What has occurred here is effectively a scheme to coach the defendant in the evidence he's giving. 'There's going to be an investigation into this by the police because, on the face of it, there's been a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.' A spokesman for Lancashire Police has now confirmed to the Daily Mail: 'A 28-year-old woman from Blackpool, a 52-year-old woman from Bispham and a 31-year-old man of no fixed address were arrested on suspicion of committing an act / series of acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice. 'The women have been released under investigation while enquiries continue and the man has been released back into the custody of the prison service while enquiries continue.' The date of their arrests were not disclosed by police. We revealed in February how Wellings had proposed to Ms Croft in a letter he left with Ms Green before the jury's verdict. Following the trial, Ms Croft agreed to 'step down' from her job at a beauty salon in Blackpool after the owner found the controversy surrounding her alleged involvement in the case was harming business. But she stunned friends by telling them she will 'stick by' Wellings and has accepted his 'proposal', vowing to wait for him until his release. One friend told the Daily Mail: 'She keeps telling everyone they don't really know the real Ryan, but she's in complete denial. 'The idea that she would even consider walking down the aisle with someone like him, having heard what was said in court, is quite incredible.' Another former friend of Ms Croft's said that she was 'completely in thrall' to Wellings and 'in denial' about the nature of his personality. 'She's got this fairytale view of him, but it's caused so much bad feeling in Blackpool,' said the friend. 'The owner of the salon where she worked has had enough of the bad publicity and threatening messages, so she asked Emma to step down and she agreed.' In a Facebook post, The Powder Room salon announced in February: 'Please Read. In regards to recent media coverage, we would like to inform our client that Emma Croft no longer works at The Powder Room. 'We ask that others are kind and respectful towards all staff who work hard to make our salon an inviting place and have nothing to do with the situation that has arisen. 'Police are aware of recent media comments and are staying in close contact with the owners of the salon. Thank you.' Daily Mail approached Wellings's mother Ms Green but she denied that her son was engaged to Ms Croft in February. The trial heard how Wellings repeatedly lashed out at Ms Dawes, beating her while she was pregnant with his child, as well as threatening to drown her in a bath, drill her teeth and 'make her look like Katie Piper' by dousing her with acid. He also urged Ms Dawes to kill herself, boasted that 'hitting you is like hitting a man' and, on one occasion, forced her head underwater in a bath and said: 'Say goodbye to your baby'. In one incident just 11 days before Ms Dawes's death, on July 11 2022, he 'launched' her into a radiator with such force it broke the appliance off the wall, then slammed a door in her face - knocking her out and leaving her with blood pouring from her head. She called police at least five times reporting domestic problems with Wellings. While she frequently downplayed her abuse to officers - due to threats from her partner - she did make a statement about the assault on July 11. He was arrested for assault but bailed on condition he did not contact her, which he did. The hairdresser left her nine-month-old daughter with a friend alongside a note before taking her own life on railway tracks, near Garstang, Lancashire, on July 22 2022. The note, found on her phone, said: 'The end. I fought hard, I fought long. I went through pain no one could imagine. 'I was murdered. Ryan Wellings killed me. He ruined every bit of strength I had left. I didn't deserve it. 'I hope my life saves another by police services acting faster. Don't let bullies live free.' Addressing her daughter, she wrote: 'I'm sorry I let you go... I'm so sorry I had to go. 'The world turned their back on me. I was strong. I had dreams. I had a future at one point. That was taken away from me.'
BBC News
20-03-2025
- BBC News
Kiena Dawes's mum opens Fleetwood domestic abuse victims' hub
The mother of Kiena Dawes, who took her own life after sustained abuse by her partner, has opened a new centre to help other women suffering from domestic 23-year-old, who lived in Fleetwood, was psychologically and physically abused by Ryan Wellings before her death in July Behind Closed Doors hub in Fleetwood will provide a confidential safe space to empower and support women experiencing domestic Andy Hill, of Lancashire Police, said the new hub would be one of a number of ways that women and girls can get support and advice and "take positive action together" against "totally unacceptable" violence, abuse and intimidation. As well as Lancashire Police, partners from the NHS, Healthier Fleetwood and Wyre Borough Council are also supporting the hub that has been opened by Angela Hill said Behind Closed Doors was a "non-judgemental, confidential group where you can discuss - in a safe space within drop-in sessions - your concerns, thoughts and feelings with fellow survivors".He added: "Domestic abuse isn't just physical – it can be emotional, physical, sexual, financial or controlling behaviour."We encourage you to come to the police to report it so we can support you."Some people aren't totally comfortable coming to the police and there is a whole host of support agencies out there and Behind Closed Doors is just one more where people can come and talk and receive support, advice and guidance."Sgt Hill said: "For anyone who feels they are at risk of abuse, it is important to remember that there is help and support available to you when you are ready."The hub on Adelaide Street is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 GMT to 14: this year, 30-year-old Wellings, from Bispham in Lancashire, was found not guilty of manslaughter but convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour between January 2020 and July Preston Crown Court he was subsequently jailed for six-and-a-half years. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
29-01-2025
- BBC News
'I had no choice but to flee my controlling partner'
A woman has told how she was forced to flee her home and change her name to escape abuse by a controlling ex-boyfriend amid fresh calls for more awareness of an "invisible, secret crime".The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was forced to move across the country to Greater Manchester to get away from her partner after his behaviour turned said she did not realise coercive control of this nature was an offence and it never occurred to her to report his actions to police. She has told her story amid calls for more awareness of the crime following the death of Kiena Dawes, a 23-year-old Lancashire mother who took her own life after years of abuse by her fiancee. Ryan Wellings was jailed for more than six years after being found guilty of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour earlier this month after Miss Dawes death in the trial, Judge Robert Altham said he had "disparaged her appearance, said her dead father would be ashamed of her, that she was fat and ugly and incompetent at her work". The number of coercive control offences recorded by police across England and Wales has risen in the last two years to more than 45,000 in 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).It was made an offence at the end of 2015, and the ONS said the recent increase could be due to improvements in police recognising cases and using the new law. The woman told the BBC her partner had "played with her mind", told her she was a "worthless person" and that "nobody else would ever want to go out with me"."He had worn me down so much that I believed him," she was part of a pattern of controlling behaviour, including checking on her through phone calls, turning up in person, telling her what she could and could not wear, and on occasions even locking her in the house. To the rest of the world he seemed like the perfect boyfriend, she said, but behind closed doors "he turned into something else".She said the relationship ended one Christmas after "he pushed me and I fell backwards into our bathroom and smashed my head and that's when he started kicking me".Her best friend hired a van and helped her pack in a two-hour window when they knew her partner would be out, before driving away to leave her house and most of her possessions. "When I look back, what I see is that he put a noose around my neck and then as the weeks went by he slowly, slowly, slowly tightened the noose," she described the coercive behaviour as an "invisible, very secret crime"."I think there are too many women - and men as well - that suffer in silence," she losing her home, she said she believed there was hope for those trying to escape as she did, adding: "I got my freedom back". 'Suffer in silence' James Maguire, a solicitor for Maguire Family Law, said the Manchester-based practice had worked an increasing number of clients that were either victims of coercive control, or perpetrators."I see a staggering amount of cases where people are spying," he said. "Sometimes it will be the home security cameras and listening devices but sometimes they've purposely installed trackers on cars."The legal process can only help so far. The police can do what they can do in terms of their powers, and the same for a family law solicitor, but sometimes my clients are broken from this."His firm held a nationwide survey of 2,000 people that found more than a third of people did not know coercive control was a crime. Manchester charity Talk, Listen, Change offers relationship counselling and supports victims of domestic abuse but also works with the perpetrators of coercive control. The charity's Anna Callaghan said the help can take a long time to bear fruit, but results do come."We absolutely see lightbulb moments from people where they change their thoughts and feelings and their attitudes towards their partner or ex-partner and really start to understand the impact their behaviour has had on those around them," she described the lack of awareness that coercive control is a crime as "really concerning" and said the organisation wants people to know there is help and support out there. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
