A man has been found guilty of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour towards his late partner, but cleared of her manslaughter. Kiena Dawes, a 23-year-old hairdresser based in Fleetwood, Lancashire, died by suicide in July 2022 after suffering two years of violence and abuse at the hands of Ryan Wellings, a 30-year-old landscape gardener from nearby Bispham. During the trial, which took place at Preston Crown Court, the jury heard that Wellings had a history of battering partners, with Ms Dawes saying that her “fairy tale” romance with him turned into a “nightmare”. Hundreds of text messages were presented to the court detailing the abuse.
Ms Dawes was diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder, resulting in, among other things, increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulty in relationships. In response, Wellings was accused of exploiting this condition. He denied all his charges and told jurors that any injuries Ms Dawes had sustained were the result of him “restraining” her when she attacked him, saying that he had never intentionally hit her.
Wellings will be sentenced on 16 January. Ms Dawes’ family reacted emotionally in court to his not being found guilty of manslaughter. Wellings smiled and blew a kiss to his girlfriend in the public gallery as he was led away.
Concerns have been raised about the role of Lancashire Police in the case, with Ms Dawes having declined to help prosecute Wellings after he allegedly threatened her with having their daughter taken away and with evidence emerging that several officers may have played a part in “coaching” Wellings on the content and nature of his evidence given through the trial
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