The mother of Kiena Dawes has revealed the devastating impact her daughter’s death has had on her granddaughter. Kiena, 23, took her own life following years of violent abuse from her partner, Ryan Wellings.
Wellings, 30, was today (Thursday) jailed for six-and-a-half years after being convicted of the assault and abuse of Kiena. He was cleared of the unlawful killing of Kiena, who left a suicide note calling her partner a “monster” who had “killed me”.
As Wellings awaited sentence, Angela Dawes – Kiena’s mother – told the court that Kiena’s young daughter was struggling to deal with the loss of her mum.
In a heartbreaking victim impact statement read out in court, she said: “Her daughter has already asked me where her Mummy is. I have found it impossible to answer that question.”
Ms Dawes described her daughter as “a rare gem”, adding: “She brought so much love and kindness to this world and to everyone who loved her.
“She was an extremely beautiful girl, and was quite truly the sweetest kindest and gentlest person I have ever known. Kiena is missed so much every second of every day.”
Ms Dawes has been caring for Kiena’s baby daughter since a few hours after she was found dead on a railway line on July 22, 2022.
Ryan Wellings has been jailed for six-and-a-half years
She told the court: “Her baby girl was brought to my home a few hours after Kiena was found, and has been in my full time care ever since that tragic day, and I honestly cannot put into words just how much it breaks my heart that her beautiful baby doesn’t have her Mummy here because of that monster.
“I’ll never forget the day when three CID officers came to my house shortly after I lost Kiena. And I simply said “Ryan Wellings killed my baby” and I will fight for her justice.
“I truly hope that no other young lady or child has to go through what he did to my daughter and her baby. I just wish with all my heart that I could bring her back and say “It is okay, you’re safe now”.”
Jurors have previously heard that Keina, a hairdresser from Fleetwood in Lancashire, had suffered two years of violence and abuse at the hands of Wellings.
Kiena Dawes
Kiena met Wellings through her brother in January 2020, and their relationship quickly escalated. Within a week, Wellings had tattooed Kiena’s name and face on his neck and leg.
Three months into the relationship, he proposed to her on a beach in Dorset. However, within a month, Wellings assaulted her in a fit of jealousy.
In the same year, he physically dragged her by her hair and coerced her into giving him money. While pregnant, Kiena also endured a black eye from her abusive partner.
Wellings threatened Kiena with the loss of her child if she reported his abuse and manipulated her mental health issues to control her. On July 11, 2022, he violently slammed a door into her head, causing her to lose consciousness in their Fleetwood flat’s hallway.
Eleven days later, after leaving her daughter with a friend, Kiena tragically took her own life on a railway line. Three Lancashire Police officers are facing disciplinary hearings over the case.