Kiena Dawes' thug ex partner - who she said drove her to suicide after years of horrific abuse - has sparked fresh disgust from behind bars. Last month, Ryan Wellings was found guilty of coercive control and abuse after Kiena, 23, took her own life and left a note saying, 'Ryan Wellings killed me'. For two and a half years, the mother-of-one endured horrific physical and psychological abuse at the hands of the Wellings, 30, who mercilessly threatened to drill her teeth and throw acid on her face.

Wellings, who was cleared of manslaughter, told Kiena to take her own life and said "hitting you is like hitting a man". In one instance, he held her head underwater in a bath and told her: "Say goodbye to your baby." Before her tragic death on July 22, 2022, Kiena wrote that she'd been 'tortured' until there was 'nothing left'. Despite this harrowing campaign of abuse, Wellings has moved on with a new girlfriend, who remained loyally by his side as his vile behaviour played out in court. And now he's reportedly proposed to his new lover from behind bars. Hair technician Emma Croft, who strikingly resembles Kiena, has allegedly vowed to support him until his release.

According to sources quoted as friends of Emma, Wellings proposed to her in a letter that he left with his mum, Lisa Green, ahead of the jury's verdict, and Emma accepted his proposal. Emma has stated she will "stand by" Wellings until he finishes his six-year sentence and is released from prison, according to Mail Online. One of her friends reportedly told the paper that Emma was "completely in thrall" to Wellings, but it has sparked controversy with locals. The unnamed pal said: "She's got a fairytale view of him, but it's caused so much bad feeling in Blackpool.".

Emma's faithful support for the convicted thug has cost the beauty professional her job, according to the friend, who told the publication: "The owner of the salon where she worked has had enough of the bad publicity and threatening messages, so she asked Emma to step down, and she agreed.". Last month, The Powder Room, a beauty salon based in Bispham, Blackpool, issued a statement to reassure customers that Emma no longer worked for them. They wrote on Facebook: "In regards to recent media coverage, we would like to inform our clients that Emma Croft no longer works at the Powder Room.".

It has since emerged that Emma and Lisa are under police investigation after allegedly coaching Wellings before he gave evidence. While on remand, Wellings made a number of calls to his girlfriend and mum, both of whom attended the trial. While he was allowed to speak to family and friends, 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.". Tortured mum-of-one Kiena died by suicide just 11 days after Wellings carried out his final brutal attack, smashing her against a bathroom radiator and knocking her out by slamming a door in her face. The trial was told how violent Wellings assaulted Kiena while she was pregnant and issued horrifying threats to drown her in a bath.

On top of the physical and emotional abuse, Wellings, who was unable to hold down a job, sponged off Kiena, draining her money. While Kiena worked two jobs, Wellings secured and left 22 jobs. After taking out £15,000 in Covid loans during lockdown, he spent the cash on hotels, £1,800 golf clubs and drugs. Emma was present in the courtroom throughout the trials, and Wellings even blew her a kiss while Kiena's family wept. But at his sentencing, his girlfriend was nowhere to be seen, and Wellings instead had the support of his mum, Lisa. She was forced to listen to the heartbreaking words of Kiena's mother, who told how the tragedy impacted her granddaughter.

Angeles Dawes said: "Her daughter has already asked me where her mummy is. I have found it impossible to answer that question." Addressing future relationships in the courtroom, Judge Robert Altham said Wellings had shown no remorse and is a "clear danger to any partner you have in the future". During the trial, fresh fury came from Kiena's distraught best friend, Kirsty Brunn, who slammed Emma for laying flowers in memory of Kiena and sharing a Facebook post from Kiena's brother. Expressing her anger in a Facebook post, she said: "She's even took flowers for Kiena.".