Undated handout photo issued by Lancashire Police of Ryan Wellings, 30, who has been found guilty of assault and prolonged domestic violence towards his partner, 23-year-old Kiena Dawes, but cleared of her manslaughter at Preston Crown Court, and is to be sentenced later on Thursday. Dawes 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. Issue date: Thursday January 16, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Kiena. Photo credit should read: Lancashire Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. (Image: PA)
An abusive man who drove his girlfriend to take her own life has been handed a lengthier prison term after being ‘coached’ throughout his trial in a contempt of court.
Ryan Wellings was imprisoned, but cleared of manslaughter, after allegedly being responsible for the death of Kiena Dawes, 23, who took her own life.
The mother-of-one died by suicide on railway tracks following two years of abuse at the hands of Wellings.
She left a note stating “I was murdered,” adding that Wellings, 31, “killed me” after enduring his coercive and controlling behaviour.
In January 2025, Wellings was sentenced to six-and-a-half years behind bars after being convicted of coercive and controlling behaviour and assault.
A further seven months have now been added to his sentence for contempt of court.
The abuser disregarded a judge’s instruction not to discuss his trial, speaking about it while proceedings were ongoing with his then partner Emma Croft and mother Lisa Green.
Green was a potential defence witness who was fully aware she could not discuss the trial during proceedings, and while Croft was present in court for the warnings, the pair discussed the trial on eight separate occasions over the phone.
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Undated handout photo issued by Lancashire Police of Kiena Dawes, 23, from Fleetwood, who was found dead by British Transport Police on the railway line near Barnacre on July 22, 2022, shortly after she was reported missing. Dawes 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. Ryan Wellings, 30, has been found guilty of assault and prolonged domestic violence towards his partner, but cleared of her manslaughter at Preston Crown Court, and is to be sentenced later on Thursday. Issue date: Thursday January 16, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Kiena. Photo credit should read: Lancashire Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. (Image: PA)
Mother-of-two Croft, 29, told Wellings during one call: “Some advice to listen, so take it in. Say how sorry you was and how you regret some of your action.
“You can show emotion. If you do feel like you’re gonna cry then let it out.”
In the days that followed, Wellings broke down in tears as he gave evidence regarding Kiena’s death. Croft also instructed Wellings that when questioned about “kick offs” between him and Kiena, he should imply some were linked to her mental health struggles.
Croft further stated: “Don’t forget to keep mentioning self-defence. Get it in there.”
Adam Birkby, prosecuting, told Preston Crown Court: “The Crown’s case is that during the telephone calls the defendants engaged in witness coaching, and that their joint intention was to influence and thereby improve both the content of the evidence given by Ryan Wellings and the manner in which he gave it.
“This was in flagrant breach of the clear order of the court.”
Both Croft and Green received a six-month sentence, suspended for 20 months.
Passing sentence, Judge Robert Altham described their coaching as a “serious interference with the fairness and integrity of the trial process in an important and serious case concerning the loss of life”.
DO NOT USE UNTIL AFTER CONVICTION Ryan Wellings, 30, is accused of driving Kiena Dawes, 23, to suicide after he allegedly subjected her to continued domestic violence and abuse. (Image: Lancashire Police)
Nevertheless, the judge was unable to determine whether this had any bearing on the “ultimate outcome” of the trial.
Separately from the contempt case, Wellings’ father Michael and mother Green were sentenced for kidnapping their granddaughter in the weeks following her mother Kiena’s death.
The baby was in her pram with her maternal grandmother when Michael Wellings snatched her and fled towards a car where Green was screaming “get her”.
Both received nine-month custodial sentences, suspended for 20 months.
Throughout Wellings and Kiena’s two-year relationship, he subjected her to violent abuse, on one occasion telling her: “Hitting you is like hitting a man”. Kiena had been diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, a condition that led to heightened impulsivity, low self-esteem and troubled relationships.
Wellings would ruthlessly exploit her vulnerability, ultimately driving her to take her own life.
He launched a violent attack on her in front of their baby daughter just 11 days before she died.
Wellings once forced her head beneath the water in the bath, telling her: “Say goodbye to your baby”.
He accused Kiena of being unfaithful, branding her a “s**g”, hurled a stool at her and told her to kill herself.
He threatened to use a drill to remove her teeth and warned he would throw acid in her face to “make her look like Katie Piper”.
On 21st July 2022, Kiena declared she would leave Wellings following a violent attack that left her hospitalised.
Upon returning home to collect her belongings, she sent a text to her mother reading: “I’m genuinely tortured. I don’t know how I’m going to get over this.
“I know time is a healer but I am seriously haunted by what’s happened. It’s f***ing killing me.”
The following morning, the young mother drove to a friend’s house and let herself in while her friend was in the shower.
Emma Croft, Ryan Wellings New GirlfriendRyan Wellings, 30, is accused of driving Kiena Dawes, 23, to suicide after he allegedly subjected her to continued domestic violence and abuse. (Image: undefined)
The court was told she left her nine-month-old daughter behind alongside a devastating note.
It read: “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.”
Kiena then apologised to her daughter for having to “let you go” and claimed the world had “turned their back on me”.
The note further expressed her wish that her baby would be “kept away from the monster who is called her dad”.
Kiena, from Fleetwood in Lancashire, subsequently travelled to a country lane where she was struck by a high-speed train.