Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for abusing partner who killed herself

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Man jailed for six-and-a-half years for abusing partner who killed herself
Author: Pat Hurst
Published: Jan, 16 2025 16:10

A “monster” who subjected his vulnerable partner to assault and years of domestic abuse but was cleared of her manslaughter has been jailed for six-and-a-half years. Ryan Wellings, 30, was cleared of the unlawful killing of Kiena Dawes, 23, who left a suicide note calling her partner a “monster” who had “killed me”.

Image Credit: The Standard

She left the note and their nine-month-old daughter with a friend before killing herself on a railway line on July 22 2022. Prosecutors took the highly unusual step of charging Wellings with manslaughter and he was the first defendant to face trial for the unlawful killing of his partner after her suicide following domestic violence.

Image Credit: The Standard

He was convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour over a two-year period but cleared of manslaughter by the jury on Monday after a six-week trial at Preston Crown Court. At his sentencing hearing on Thursday, Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, urged the judge to sentence Wellings on the basis that his conduct “formed the background and set the scene” for Ms Dawes’ death.

Judge Robert Altham, Honorary Recorder of Preston, jailed Wellings for six-and-a-half years. Jurors heard that Ms Dawes, a hairdresser from Fleetwood in Lancashire, had suffered two years of violence and abuse at the hands of Wellings. She had been diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder, resulting in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulty in relationships, a condition allegedly exploited by the defendant.

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