Ryan Wellings sentencing: Latest updates as Kiena Dawes' partner faces prison over abuse before she took her own life

Speaking outside court after the verdicts, Ms Dawes’s mother, Angela, condemned Wellings as a ‘monster’.

In an emotional statement surrounded by family, she said:

Today was for you Kiena. I am sorry that your voice has not been fully heard and that justice has not been done in the way we all hoped. I’m finding it almost impossible to put it into words just how big of an impact losing Kiena has been on all the family, her beautiful baby girl and all of her friends.

Kiena was a rare gem, she brought so much love and kindness to this world and to everyone that loved her. She was an extremely beautiful girl and was quite truly the sweetest, kindest, gentlest person I have ever known.

Kiena is missed so very much, every second of every day. Her baby girl was brought to my home a few hours after Kiena was found and has been in my full time care every since that tragic day. I cannot put it into words just how much it breaks my heart that her beautiful baby girl doesn’t have her mummy here because of that monster.

A violent boyfriend whose fiancée went on to kill herself after enduring years of sickening abuse at his hands was cleared of manslaughter at Preston Crown Court on Monday

Kiena Dawes, 23, had written a suicide note saying, ‘Ryan Wellings killed me’, before leaving their nine-month-old daughter with a friend and taking her own life on a railway line on July 22, 2022.

Jurors heard how Wellings repeatedly lashed out at the hairdresser, 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.

The 30-year-old also urged Ms Dawes to kill herself, boasted that ‘hitting you is like hitting a man’ and, on one occasion, dunked her head in a bath and said: ‘Say goodbye to your baby’.

He was the first defendant to be tried before a jury accused of the unlawful killing of his partner after her suicide following domestic violence, but was found not guilty. He turned and blew a kiss to his new girlfriend as the verdict was read out, while Ms Dawes’ sister burst into tears.

Despite being cleared of manslaughter, Wellings was convicted of assault and coercive control for two years of violence and abuse.

Kiena Dawes was described by her mother Angela as the ‘sweetest, kindest and gentlest person’ following the conclusion of Ryan Wellings’ trial earlier this week.

The 23-year-old described Wellings as a ‘monster’ who had ‘killed me’ following their relationship in which she was subjected to prolonged domestic violence.

Jurors heard Ms Dawes, a hairdresser from Fleetwood in Lancashire, had suffered two years of violence and abuse at the hands of Wellings.

She had been diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder, resulting in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulty in relationships, a condition allegedly exploited by the defendant.

Kiena had attempted to take her own life in the past, before her relationship with Wellings and his lawyers told the court her suicide was due to ‘multiple factors’.

Bubbly and happy-go-lucky, she had been ‘swept off her feet’ after meeting Wellings, a landscape gardener from Bispham, who had a previous conviction for battering his ex-partner, the mother of his twin girls.

Wellings had Ms Dawes’ name and face tattooed on his body within a week of meeting, and proposed marriage within three months.

But Ms Dawes later said her ‘fairy tale’ turned into a ‘nightmare’ with Wellings, who had a vicious temper and regularly enjoyed cocaine and drink binges, the court heard.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Ryan Wellings sentencing at Preston Crown Court.

Wellings, 30, was cleared of the manslaughter of his partner Kiena Dawes who took her own life after suffering years of abuse but was convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour.

Kiena (pictured), a 23-year-old mother, left heir nine-month-old daughter with a friend before she killed herself on a railway line on July 22 2022.

The landscape gardener from Bispham, Lancashire, became the first defendant to face trial for the unlawful killing of his partner after her suicide following domestic violence.

Stick with us as we bring you live updates from Preston Crown Court from our reporter James Tozer.

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