Nearly four years after Kiena Dawes' tragic death, her family and friends have been forced to relive their torment as her abuser, Ryan Wellings, faced additional legal consequences. On July 22, 2022, the 23-year-old mother died by suicide after enduring years of terror at the hands of her fiancé. In a heartbreaking message left behind, Kiena wrote: "I was murdered. Ryan Wellings killed me."
The Abuse and Its Aftermath
Wellings was acquitted of manslaughter but convicted of assault and engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour over two years. Prosecutors stated that he "set the scene for her death." In January 2025, he was sentenced to six and a half years in prison, which was later extended by seven months for contempt of court after he discussed his trial in phone calls from prison, violating a judge's order.
Contempt of Court and Coaching
Wellings ignored instructions not to discuss his trial while giving evidence and talked about the case in eight phone calls from prison with his new girlfriend, Emma Croft, 29, and his mother, Lisa Green, 53, between December 17, 2024, and January 2, 2025. In one call, Croft coached Wellings to cry in court, saying: "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." Days later, Wellings wept when giving evidence about hearing of Kiena's death. Croft also advised him to mention self-defence and attribute arguments to Kiena's mental health. Croft and Green pleaded guilty to contempt of court and were sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 20 months.
The Relationship and Escalating Abuse
Kiena met Wellings, a landscape gardener, through her brother in January 2020. Their relationship quickly became intense: within a week, Wellings had a tattoo of her name and face, and after three months, they were engaged. However, the fairytale turned into a nightmare as Wellings subjected Kiena to repeated abuse. He slapped her, pulled her by the hair, threatened to use a drill on her teeth, and said he would throw acid in her face. He also sponged cash off her, securing and leaving 22 jobs while she worked two jobs. After she became pregnant, he gave her a black eye and called her a "fat little bitch" while contacting escorts and prostitutes online.
Failed Attempts to Escape
Kiena tried to seek help multiple times but was so terrified of Wellings that she always relented. On July 4, 2022, she drove into the back of a car, telling paramedics she was thinking about suicide. A week later, on July 11, a row erupted when Kiena moved some of his belongings while vacuuming. Wellings demanded the engagement ring back and threw it out the window. With their daughter screaming, Kiena pushed him out of the flat, but he flung the door open, slamming it in her face and knocking her unconscious. She made a desperate 999 call, saying Wellings had launched her into a bathroom radiator and slammed the door in her face. Police found blood on the floor and a broken towel rail.
Kiena had the courage to call the police at least five times during the relationship but refrained from pressing charges due to threats that their baby would be taken away. After the July 11 assault, she made a statement, and Wellings was arrested and bailed with a condition not to contact her. However, on July 17, he called her in the early hours making threats. When she reported it, police did not treat it as a breach of bail, leaving her feeling unsupported.
The Final Days
Three days before her death, Kiena sent a text to a friend: "I was in hospital longer than he was in the cells. The world is f****d and I hate it." On July 22, she dropped off their nine-month-old baby daughter at a friend's house. Ring camera footage captured her walking up to the door with her little girl in a carrier before letting herself in as her friend was showering. She left her daughter inside along with a parting letter that read: "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." In a suicide note on her phone, she wrote: "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 had dreams. I had a future at one point. That was taken away from me."
Family's Ongoing Torment
Kiena's mother, Angela Dawes, described her daughter as a "rare gem" and said losing her has been devastating. She opened a centre called Behind Closed Doors in Fleetwood, Lancashire, to help other victims of abuse. However, the family continues to be tormented by Wellings and some of his family members. Last year, Wellings' mother, Lisa Green, and father, Michael Wellings, pleaded guilty to kidnapping their granddaughter just weeks after Kiena's death. The child was snatched from the street by the pair, who drove off a short distance. Green dialled 999 herself, claiming they had to "snatch her back" because the Dawes family refused to return her and their son had parental responsibility. Sentencing them to nine months in prison, suspended for 20 months, Judge Altham said: "You didn't think of your granddaughter, you thought only of yourselves."
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist support. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk. If you need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, email jo@samaritans.org or visit the website.
