Ryan Wellings cleared of Kiena Dawes’ manslaughter

The former partner of a young mother who took her own life has been cleared of her manslaughter.

Ryan Wellings, from Bispham in Lancashire, was accused of subjecting Kiena Dawes to sustained domestic violence and abuse.

Wellings, a 30-year-old landscape gardener, was found not guilty of manslaughter and guilty of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour between January 2020 and July 2022 after a trial at Preston Crown Court.

He had denied all charges.

During the trial the jury heard Ms Dawes, a 23-year-old hairdresser, from Fleetwood in Lancashire, left a note saying “I was murdered” and that Wellings had “killed [her]” before taking her own life on 22 July 2022.

The defence said her medical records showed she had a history of mental health problems starting from the age of 13, frequent drug and alcohol use, thoughts of suicide and attempts to take her own life before and after she met Wellings.