The new girlfriend of Kiena Dawes’ abuser Ryan Wellings “no longer works” at the beauty salon she was employed at, the business has announced.
Emma Croft, who worked at The Powder Room beauty salon in Bispham, faithfully supported Wellings, 30, at Preston Crown Court as he faced charges of manslaughter, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour towards Kiena, 23 – who tragically took her own life at a Lancashire train station in 2022.
The owners of The Powder Room announced earlier today on their social media that Croft no longer worked there. The post read: “In regards to recent media coverage, we would like to inform our clients that Emma Croft no longer works at the Powder Room.”
Wellings blew a kiss to Croft in court as he was led away after being cleared of manslaughter on Monday. The long-haired brunette bears a chilling resemblance to his hairdresser ex, who was subjected to vile torture and abuse in the lead up to her death. In a harrowing suicide note, which she penned on her phone, Kiena wrote: “Ryan Wellings killed me.”
Kiena was found dead on a railway track in July 2022
Ryan Wellings with new girlfriend Emma Croft
The mum said: “The end. I fought hard, I fought long. I went through pain no one could imagine. No one will know what I went through. I was murdered. Slowly. They tortured me, till there was nothing left. I lost my fight but I didn’t give up my battle. I fought till the end. Ryan Wellings killed me.”
Kiena, from Fleetwood, vanished on July 22, 2022 after dropping the couple’s nine-month-old daughter at a friend’s house. She suffered multiple injuries when she was struck by a Glasgow-bound train travelling at 110mph.
Wellings faced charges of manslaughter, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour towards Kiena during a trial at Preston Crown Court, which heard he carried out a prolonged campaign of abuse before she was found dead on the tracks near Garstang, in Lancashire. The 30-year-old was found guilty of assault and controlling and coercive behaviour, but not guilty of manslaughter.
Wellings will be sentenced at a later date
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Image:
Lancashire Police)
As the verdict was read out, Wellings is said to have smiled at Croft before blowing her a kiss as he was led away after being cleared of manslaughter. Kiena’s sister was meanwhile seen weeping as the verdict was read out.
Along with Wellings’ mum Lisa Green, Croft is now under police investigation after allegedly coaching him before he gave evidence. While on remand, Wellings made a number of calls to the pair, who attended the trial. While allowed to speak to family and friends from HMP Preston, he was not legally permitted to discuss the case with them.
Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, told the court: “He has repeatedly discussed the content and nature of the evidence with Emma Croft and Lisa Green, during giving evidence and over the Christmas period.
“The assessment of the prosecution is that the defendant has misconducted himself, as has Lisa Green and Emma Croft. What has occurred here is effectively a scheme to coach the defendant in the evidence he’s giving. There’s going to be an investigation into this by the police because, on the face of it, there’s been a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.”
For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk