In a groundbreaking domestic violence case, Ryan Wellings, 30, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison after his partner, Kiena Dawes, 23, took her own life and left a suicide note blaming him for her death. The landmark trial marks a critical step forward in holding abusers accountable for the devastating consequences of their actions, even when the victim is no longer alive to testify against them.
A Tragic End to a Life of Abuse
Kiena Dawes, described by loved ones as a bright, popular young woman who was “almost universally loved,” endured two years of physical assaults, bullying, and belittling at the hands of Wellings before ultimately taking her own life in July 2022. In a heartbreaking suicide note left on her phone, Dawes wrote:
I fought hard. I fought long. I went through pain no one could imagine … I was murdered. Slowly … Ryan Wellings killed me.
The court heard how Dawes went from being “a happy-go-lucky girl to frightened all the time” during her relationship with Wellings, a landscape gardener with a previous conviction for battering a former partner. His abuse included regular slapping, attempts to strangle Dawes with a phone charger, and threats to throw acid in her face or use a drill to remove her teeth.
Exploiting Vulnerabilities
Dawes had been diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder, a condition that made her more vulnerable to Wellings’ abuse. The prosecution argued that he “thoroughly and dreadfully” exploited her mental health struggles, using them as a means to control and manipulate her.
Despite multiple police callouts to the couple’s home, Dawes often declined to help prosecute Wellings out of fear that their daughter would be taken away from them. It wasn’t until a final assault left her requiring hospital treatment that she made a statement to the police, leading to Wellings’ arrest.
A System That Failed to Protect
Tragically, even after Wellings’ arrest, the system failed to keep Dawes safe. He broke his bail conditions but was not remanded in custody, leaving Dawes feeling let down by the police. Just four days later, she took her own life. Three Lancashire police officers now face disciplinary hearings over their handling of the case.
During the trial, Wellings was described by the prosecution as an “entitled, aggressive bully” and by Dawes’ friends as a “horrible little bastard” with a jealous streak. In a victim impact statement, Dawes’ mother called him a “monster,” saying:
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.’
A Precedent for Justice
While nothing can bring Kiena Dawes back, the outcome of this case sets a crucial precedent in the fight against domestic violence. It sends a powerful message that abusers can and will be held responsible for the harm they inflict, even if their victim is no longer able to speak out against them.
As a society, we must continue to push for better support and protection for those experiencing domestic abuse, ensuring that victims like Kiena Dawes are not left to suffer in silence. By holding perpetrators accountable and working to prevent such tragedies from occurring, we can honor her memory and strive for a future free from the scourge of domestic violence.
