The five missed chances to save tragic Kiena from her abusive ex revealed after ‘fairytale romance’ became a nightmare
TRAGIC Kiena Dawes took her own life after her “fairytale” romance turned into a nightmare at the hands of her abusive fiance.
The mum, 23, was repeatedly assaulted and belittled by Ryan Wellings throughout their two-year relationship.
Tragically, Kiena took her own life in July 2022 after telling the world in powerful final note: “I was murdered.”
Wellings was yesterday cleared of manslaughter but convicted of coercive and controlling behaviour and assault.
It has now emerged there were five missed opportunities to save the hairdresser before her death.
Kiena had reached out to officers either to report that she had been assaulted or give details of the domestic abuse she had suffered five times.
On four of these occasions, officers attended her home in Fleetwood, Lancashire.
Kiena also bore visible injuries to highlight the abuse – including a black eye while she was six months pregnant.
One brutal attack came just 11 days before she took her own life but even this wasn’t enough to lock Wellings up.
As Kiena chillingly said herself: “I was in hospital longer than he was in the cells.”
Here is the heartbreaking timeline of abuse that led to Kiena’s death.
January 26 2020
Kiena is introduced to dad-of-two Wellings by her brother and an “intense” relationship begins.
The thug even gets tattoos of her face and name within a week of meeting.
But Kiena is swept off her feet by the landscape gardener and sees the relationship as a “fairytale” romance.
February 25 2020
It does not take long for Wellings to show his true colours.
Kiena sends him a message, saying: “Stop hurting me now xxxx.”
Despite this, the couple get engaged two months later after Wellings proposes on a beach in Dorset while visiting friends.
May 3 2020
The thug becomes jealous and angry and attempts to strangle Kiena with an iPhone charger cable – leaving her bruised and badly shaken up.
Wellings already has a previous conviction for battering his ex – the mother of his two children.
May 29 2020
Wellings accuses Kiena of being unfaithful and throws a stool at her, screaming she is a “s**g” and telling her to kill herself.
He also throws her to the ground and she cuts her foot on broken glass but he later apologises.
July 20 2020
Kiena’s father, Russell Dawes, who she is very close to, dies suddenly.
The court was told Kiena had been diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, which resulted in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulty in relationships.
Unfortunately, this was exploited by uncaring Wellings during their two-year relationship.
August 28 2020
Kiena sends text messages to Wellings saying: “You’ve f***ing terrorised me… You’re a bully.”
Christmas 2020
The mum tells Wellings she is leaving him after she is “ragged around” by her hair.
Wellings also demands money from her during the brutal attack.
Her mother tells Kiena to call police but she makes up with Wellings the next day.
February 2021
Kiena becomes pregnant, leading evil Wellings to begin calling her “fat”. He even starts talking to prostitutes and escorts online.
As a result of the pregnancy, Kiena has to stop taking medication and her mental health condition deteriorates.
She later told police: “The emotional abuse was on a daily basis… He would talk to other women on social media and was cheating.
“[He] would call me names like am I a psychopath and a freak.
“He kept telling me I would talk to myself and I would have my baby taken off of me.”
February 20 2021
The mum is admitted to a mental hospital for three weeks, feeling suicidal.
Wellings cruelly tells her no one believes her complaints about him due to her mental issues and her unborn child will be taken from her.
April 17 2021
Kiena bravely kicks Wellings out of her flat because he is cheating.
The thug then threatens to torch her car and even updates his Facebook profile to show him sitting in a car, smiling and holding a lighter.
May 8 2021
Wellings smashes up the home-made shrine of candles and a photo Kiena had made of her late father.
He also threatens to flush her father’s ashes down the toilet.
July 5 2021
Kiena is given a black eye by Wellings while six months pregnant.
She calls the police but before they arrive, he tells her officers will take their unborn child from them.
When police arrive, Kiena tells them it was just a verbal argument. Wellings apologises and promises not to do it again.
She would later tell officers: “On police arrival Ryan’s attitude changed and he put on an act, he was very pleasant.
“I told police it was just a verbal argument because I was scared about our baby and losing Ryan.”
August 2 2021
Kiena sends a WhatsApp to Wellings of some of the things he has said to her.
One text reads: “You think your life is hell now, when the baby gets here I’ll make it f***ing hell… You’re a fat little b****.
“Your (family) are dossers. You’ve got a s*** life. No one loves you. Stop f***ing crying.”
August 4 2021
Kiena calls police for a second time, saying the couple had split but Wellings was trying to take her property from their flat.
She tells officers Wellings had assaulted her in the past.
Police go to the home where pregnant Kiena can be seen crying on the bed wearing just a towel.
September 23 2021
Kiena sends Wellings a message saying: “You’ve raised your fist to me twice this week… You’ll never change.”
October 13 2021
Kiena gives birth to their daughter but fatherhood does not mellow Wellings’ behaviour.
Describing her home life at the time, Kiena wrote: “It wasn’t long till he was hurting me again.
“I started to get hit around the head every week now even if it’s just a slap.
“But he’s made me believe that’s acceptable because I argue back with him.”
November 21 2021
Kiena’s mother Angela calls 999 saying Wellings was refusing to leave their flat, with Kiena complaining he was “terrorising” her.
Christmas 2021
During a row, Wellings turned his cordless drill on and put it to Kiena’s face – threatening to drill her teeth out.
The evil thug has also previously threatened to douse the mother of his child in acid.
January 4 2022
Brave Kiena calls the National Domestic Abuse Helpline reporting abuse and violence from Wellings.
March 11 2022
Kiena is bathing their daughter when Wellings grabs her head and dunks it in the baby bath – threatening to drown her.
He chillingly told her: “Say goodbye to your baby”.
March 15 2022
The mum made her first witness statement to police after calling 999, reporting domestic violence.
Wellings is arrested on suspicion of assault but Kiena tells police she does not want to pursue a complaint and takes him back again.
Lancashire Police arrange for a panic alarm to be installed in her flat but no further action is taken against Wellings.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
June 13 2022
Wellings pushes Kiena over the back of their sofa, grabs and hits her after she answered Wellings back, which “triggers his anger”.
July 4 2022
Kiena drives into the back of a car – telling paramedics, she forgot she was on the road and was thinking about taking her own life.
She admits that she needs help.
July 11 2022
Kiena rings 999 crying and covered in blood after a brutal attack at their home.
The mum says Wellings “launched” her into a bathroom radiator – knocking it from a wall – and slammed a door in her face.
She said she was knocked out in the attack and cut her head.
Horror pictures show blood pouring her head and a one-inch gash.
She tells police she feels “trapped and confused” after being attacked.
Kiena is treated in hospital for her injuries while Wellings is arrested and bailed on the condition he does not contact Kiena.
July 17 2022
Wellings calls Kiena in the early hours of the morning with threats.
She reports this to police but it is not treated as a breach of bail, leaving her feeling “unsupported”.
Kiena takes matters into her own hands and shares a Facebook post detailing the abuse along with pictures of her injuries.
Despite not naming Wellings, police advice her to delete it – leaving the mum feeling “unsupported”.
July 22 2022
On July 22, 2022, Kiena drove to a friend’s home and let herself in while the pal was in the shower.
Footage released by police shows the hairdresser walking up to the front door with her nine-month-old baby girl.
Kiena then leaves her daughter inside, along with the heartbreaking note.
This read: “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 didn’t deserve it.
“I hope my life saves another by police services acting faster. Don’t let bullies live free.”
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,www.samaritans.org, 116 123
Kiena then apologised to her daughter for having to “let you go” and told how the world had “turned their back on me”.
The hairdresser, from Fleetwood in Lancashire, travelled to a country lane and took her own life.
Lancashire Police, whose handling of the Nicola Bulley case was widely criticised, referred themselves to the police watchdog following her death.
The mum had begged them for help and documented her injuries during the abuse campaign.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct launched a probe into whether officers acted quickly enough following concerns for Kiena’s safety.
It previously announced one officer would face gross misconduct proceedings, with two others accused of misconduct.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.