Man jailed for six-and-a-half years after being found guilty of assault against girlfriend who took her own life

Warning: This article contains discussion of domestic violence and suicide which some readers may find distressing

Ryan Wellings has been jailed for six-and-a-half-years after being found guilty of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour.

He was sentenced at Preston Crown Court this afternoon (16 January).

The 30-year-old received four years on count one of coercive behaviour and two years for count two, an incident where his partner, Kiena Dawes, was hit with a door. These sentences will run consecutively. For an offence of actual bodily harm (ABH) on his friend, he was given an additional six months.

Wellings was blamed for the 23-year-old's death in her suicide note, calling him a 'monster'.

Dawes left this note and the pair's nine-month-old daughter with a friend before she took her own life on 22 July, 2022.

Kiena Dawes was described as the 'sweetest, kindest and gentlest person' (PA)

Wellings was initially charged with manslaughter before being cleared, making him the first defendant to face trial for the unlawful killing of his partner after her suicide following domestic violence.

He was cleared of that by the jury on Monday, following a six-week trial at Preston Crown Court. He was however convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour over a two-year period.

After Wellings' conviction, Angela Dawes described her daughter as the 'sweetest, kindest and gentlest person', adding: “I truly hope no other young lady or child has to go through what he did to my daughter and her baby and I just wish with all my heart that I could bring her back and say, it’s OK, you’re safe now.”

The court heard how the man threatened to throw acid in his partner's face to 'make her look like Katie Piper' and to use a drill to take out her teeth. Prosecutor prosecutor Paul Greaney KC described him as an 'entitled, aggressive bully' who gave Dawes a black eye after she became pregnant and called her a 'fat little b**ch'.

She had been diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder, resulting in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulty in relationships, a condition allegedly exploited by the defendant.

Dawes had attempted to take her own life in the past, before her relationship with Wellings, and his lawyers told the court her suicide was due to 'multiple factors'.

Ryan Wellings was convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour over a two-year period (PA)

Greaney read her suicide note to jurors, including: "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.”

In his sentencing remarks this afternoon, Judge Altham said: "The jury acquitted you of her manslaughter so I must sentence you on the basis you have no criminal responsibility for her death however, from May 2020 you abused demeaned and belittled her and by the time she died it was plain she believed your lies. None of it was true.

"Everyone who knew and cared for her regarded her as a truly wonderful person. We heard from family, friends and clients in the trial who spoke warmly of her.

"The overwhelming evidence is that you persuaded her that everything was her fault even when you beat her. You said you did everything you could to help with her mental health problems and never assaulted her."

After receiving his sentence, Wellings reportedly smiled as he left the dock.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence to the national domestic violence helpline Refuge on 0808 2000 247, available 24/7, or via live chat, available 10am-10pm, Monday to Friday.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.