MAN JAILED FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE AND TRAGIC SUICIDE
Update 09/05/2026: A man whose girlfriend killed herself after years of domestic abuse has had seven months added to his prison sentence for contempt of court.Ryan Wellings was acquitted of manslaughter but convicted of assaulting Kiena Dawes, 23, before her death and engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour over a period of two years.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Ryan Wellings, a man from Fleetwood, has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison following a series of violent and controlling behaviours that ultimately contributed to the tragic death of his partner, Kiena Dawes.
The case was heard at Preston Crown Court, where a jury found Wellings, aged 30, guilty on charges of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour on the Monday of the trial.
Throughout the six-week proceedings, it was revealed that Dawes, a 23-year-old hairdresser from Fleetwood, endured relentless abuse at the hands of Wellings over a period of two years.
Her friends and family described her as a bright, popular individual who was well-loved by her community.
However, her demeanor changed dramatically during her relationship, with her becoming increasingly fearful and anxious.
The court heard that Dawes’s mental health was fragile, as she had been diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder, which contributed to her impulsivity, low self-esteem, and difficulties in maintaining relationships.
On July 22, 2022, Dawes tragically took her own life after leaving her nine-month-old baby with Wellings at a friend’s house.
In her final moments, she left a suicide note on her phone, in which she explicitly described Wellings as a monster and accused him of killing her slowly.
Her words were haunting: “I fought hard.
I fought long.
I went through pain no one could imagine … I was murdered.
Slowly … Ryan Wellings killed me.” This case marked a significant moment in legal history, as Wellings became the first individual to face a jury on charges related to the unlawful killing of a partner who had taken her own life due to domestic abuse.
During the trial, the prosecution painted Wellings as an entitled, aggressive bully, with Dawes’s friends and family describing him as a “horrible little bastard” with a jealous streak who disliked being challenged or answered back.
The evidence detailed a pattern of violent behaviour, including regular slapping, hair-pulling, an attempt to strangle Dawes with an iPhone charger, and threats to throw acid in her face or use a drill to extract her teeth.
After Dawes became pregnant, Wellings reportedly gave her a black eye and criticized her weight, calling her a “fat little bitch,” while also engaging in online contact with escorts and sex workers.
Despite police being called to the family home multiple times, Dawes was reluctant to pursue legal action, fearing that Wellings would threaten to take their daughter away if she reported his abuse.
However, a final assault left Dawes needing hospital treatment, prompting her to provide a statement to police.
Wellings was subsequently arrested, but he later broke his bail conditions and was not detained, which left Dawes feeling betrayed and helpless.
Just four days after this incident, she took her own life.
During sentencing, Judge Altham emphasized that Wellings bore no criminal responsibility for Dawes’s death itself, but he condemned his abusive behavior from May 2020 until her tragic end.
The court also heard impact statements from Dawes’s family, with her mother, Angela Dawes, expressing her pain and frustration over the trial, stating that it had “violated” her daughter’s privacy and dignity.
Her brother, Kynan Dawes, expressed regret for introducing Kiena to Wellings, condemning his actions and emphasizing the importance of respecting women and condemning domestic violence.
Wellings, who is also known as a landscape gardener from Bispham, Lancashire, has a prior conviction for assaulting a former partner, the mother of his twin daughters.
During the sentencing, he showed no reaction except to nod in acknowledgment of the court’s decision.
The prosecution described him as an “entitled, aggressive bully,” whose actions exploited Dawes’s vulnerabilities and led to her suffering and eventual death.
The case has also prompted disciplinary proceedings against three Lancashire police officers involved in the case, who are under scrutiny for their handling of the incidents involving Dawes and Wellings.
