Abuser whose fiancée killed herself ‘proposes to new girlfriend while in jail’
Abuser whose fiancée killed herself ‘proposes to new girlfriend while in jail’
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An abusive bully who violently terrorised his fiancée before she took her own life has become engaged while behind bars, it has been claimed. Ryan Wellings, 30, smiled and blew kisses to 28-year-old Emma Croft from the dock when he was convicted of extensively battering and threatening Kiena Dawes over a two-year period. Kiena, 23, left her nine-month-old baby with a friend and went to end her life at a railway line in Lancashire in July 2022.
She had typed a note on her phone saying: ‘I was murdered. Ryan Wellings killed me. He ruined every bit of strength I had left. I didn’t deserve it.’. Wellings was cleared of Kiena’s manslaughter but was found guilty of assault and controlling and coercive behaviour. Friends of Ms Croft say Wellings made his proposal in a letter he left with his mum before the conviction, according to MailOnline.
She has reportedly told them she accepted the proposal and will ‘stick by’ him until his release. On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a year-long campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women. Throughout the year we will be bringing you stories that shine a light on the sheer scale of the epidemic. With the help of our partners at Women's Aid, This Is Not Right aims to engage and empower our readers on the issue of violence against women.
![[Images of Kiena Dawes injuries following the assault by Ryan Wellings on 11th July 2022. Kiena Dawes embargoed police material This media package is embargoed until after conviction. Evidential material (items 2 to 17) CAN NOT be used in the event that Ryan Wellings is acquitted (not guilty verdicts on all counts). However, non-evidential material (items 18 and 19) can be used regardless of the outcome. We would politely request that you do not share it with colleagues from other media outlets. Instead, could you instruct them to contact Lancashire Police press office directly. This will allow us to effectively manage the release of this sensitive material.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235279369_ca2799-fd86.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=476)
You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk. Read more:. ‘She keeps telling everyone they don’t really know the real Ryan, but she’s in complete denial,’ one friend told the outlet, while another said she was ‘completely in thrall’. Jurors were told how Wellings repeatedly beat Kiena while she was pregnant and threatened to drown her in a bath.
He also threatened to drill her teeth and ‘make her look like Katie Piper’ by dousing her with acid. He also told Kiena to kill herself and on one occasion pushed her head underwater in a bath and said ‘Say goodbye to your baby’. Wellings was the first person to stand trial accused of the unlawful killing of a partner who ended their own life after suffering domestic abuse. Prosecutors said his abuse ‘set the scene for her death’.
‘Kiena was caused to feel – on many occasions – serious alarm and distress,’ he said. ‘This had a substantial effect on her and caused her significant psychological harm.’. The abuse continued even during periods when Kiena had broken up with Wellings. She had called police at least five times to report abuse but, due to his threats, later downplayed it. If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. And whether you are currently coping with or have made the decision to leave, you do have options.
Read more here. A final battering eleven days before her death ‘broke’ her, jurors were told, and she made another statement. Wellings was arrested but bailed, then ignored a condition to stay away. Kiena’s suicide note also called for police to act faster in future.Three police officers face disciplinary proceedings. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
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