‘Bubbly’ young mum Kiena Dawes was just 23 years old when she died after feeling “let down” by police and traumatised by a campaign of disturbing abuse at the hands of her thug fiancé, Ryan Wellings.
The well-liked hairdresser from Fleetwood, Lancashire, died by suicide on July 22, 2022, after leaving her baby daughter with a friend. In her devastating suicide note, Kiena pointed the finger of blame at Wellings, 30, stating, “Ryan Willings killed me”.
Wellings was yesterday cleared of Kiena’s manslaughter but was found guilty of coercive control and abuse. He denied the charge of manslaughter during his trial at Preston Crown Court, where jurors heard disturbing details of his abuse of Kiena. Although Kiena is tragically no longer with us to recount the horrors she endured, the meticulous notes she kept during the final years of her life paint a harrowing picture.
Kiena Dawes: Harrowing moment friend runs screaming from house after finding suicide note
Kiena kept a log disguised as a shopping list
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Police handout)
She detailed many of his vile insults
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Police handout)
Terrified of Wellings, Kiena bravely kept a log of his abuse, threats, and humiliating insults in notes on her phone, disguised as an ordinary shopping list. Kiena listed dozens of examples of Wellings insulting and humiliating her.
The top of the note reads ‘Food – tomatoes’, before going on to detail Wellings’ vile insults. These included: ‘You think you’re better than everyone’, ‘You’re a dosser’, ‘You had nothing’ and ‘You had f*** all your whole life’.
Other insults included: ‘You do s***haircuts’, ‘You are a fat little f***’ and ‘You feel sorry for yourself every day because you’ve had a s**t life. Get over it’. Kiena also explained how Wellings had accused her of cheating, writing: “I slept with his uncle whilst I was pregnant that’s why my nails fell off I was sh**** in the hot tub” and “I slept with his friend for a pair of shoes.”
Wellings threatened to ‘drill the teeth out of’ Kiena’s mouth
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Police handout)
He also threatened to throw acid in Kiena’s face ‘and watch it burn’ after she shared a selfie on Instagram
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Police handout)
She also recorded a number of shocking threats Wellings made towards her, including one instance when he held a drill to her face. Kiena wrote: “Had a drill in my face turned on. Wanted to drill the teeth out of my mouth.” Another upsetting note read: “I put a picture on Instagram so he said he would throw acid all over my face and watch it burn, I’ll never be able to take selfies again.”
Other notes read: ‘I will throw you out of a window and make it look like you killed yourself’, ‘I will throw your dad’s ashes out of the window with you’. One final note said: “If you tell the police about me, they won’t believe you because you’re crazy. I’ll tell them you’re mental.”
The six-week trial heard how, almost from the beginning of their relationship, which began in January 2020, landscape gardener Wellings repeatedly subjected Kiena to controlling and coercive behaviour, abuse and violence in a bid to “grind” her down.
The hairdresser is remembered by loved ones as the ‘sweetest, kindest and gentlest person’
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Lancashire Police)
In her suicide note, Kiena urged that her daughter be ‘kept away from the monster who is called her dad’
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Lancashire Police)
Kiena had been diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder, which resulted in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulty in relationships. Preston Crown Court heard how Wellings allegedly exploited Kiena’s condition, and while her mental health issues played a part in her eventual suicide, so too did his abusive behaviour.
As Mondays’s verdicts were read out, Wellings smiled and gave the thumbs up to his family while Kiena’s sister wept. He also blew a kiss to his new girlfriend, Emma Croft, who supported the convicted bully throughout his trial, all while hearing details of his sick treatment of Kiena.
Speaking after Wellings’ conviction, Kiena’s grieving mother Angela Dawes stated: “I’m finding it almost impossible to put into words how big of an impact losing Kiena has been. Kiena was a rare gem. She brought so much love and kindness to this world, into everyone who loved her. She was an extremely beautiful girl and was quite truly the sweetest, kindest and gentlest person I have ever known.”
Thug Wellings smiled as the verdict was read out
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Lancashire Police)
Three Lancashire Police officers are now facing misconduct hearings after it was heard Kiena had approached the force multiple times about Wellings’ abuse towards her over a period of two-and-a-half years. In a heartbreaking suicide note found on her phone, Kiena wrote: “I hope my life saves another by police services acting faster.”
The note reads: “The end. I fought hard, I fought long. I went through pain no one could imagine. No one will know what I went through. I was murdered. Slowly. They tortured me, till there was nothing left. I lost my fight but I didn’t give up my battle. I fought till the end. Ryan Wellings killed me.” The message went on to assert that it was Kiena’s wish that her daughter be “kept away from the monster who is called her dad.”
Wellings, of Bispham, Lancs, will be sentenced on Thursday, January 16.
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com
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 and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit ** www.aafda.org.uk**.
If you’re finding things tough and need someone to talk to, the Samaritans are always there. You can call their free helpline at any time on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit their website to find your nearest branch.
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