Kiena Dawes's "monster" ex-fiance Ryan Wellings - who she said drove her to suicide after he inflicted appalling abuse on her - has proposed to his girlfriend from jail. Kiena, 23, penned her suicide note that said "Ryan Wellings killed me," before she took her own life in July, 2022. The mum left their nine-month-old daughter following years of violent abuse at the hands of Wellings. The monster, 30, was caged for six-and-a-half years after he was convicted of assault and coercive control and blew kisses to his new partner Emma Croft, 28, while he was stood in the dock. Preston Crown Court previously heard Wellings was an "entitled, aggressive bully" and was described by Kiena's friends as being a "horrible little b******" who did not enjoy being answered back to.

The friends of Emma, who the monster blew a kiss to from the dock, have said Wellings has since proposed to her in a letter that he left with his mum Lisa Green just ahead of the jury's verdict, MailOnline reports. After the trial, Emma said she would step down from her beauty salon job in Blackpool due to her association with Wellings. She has since stunned friends by stating she would "stand by" Wellings and has accepted his proposal, according to the outlet. Emma will reportedly stay with him until his release. One of her friends told MailOnline Emma was "completely in thrall" to Wellings. "She's got a fairy tale view of him, but it's caused so much bad feeling in Blackpool," an unnamed pal said.

"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." In a social media post shared earlier this week, The Powder Room beauty salon in Bispham, just north of Blackpool, said: "In regards to recent media coverage, we would like to inform our clients that Emma Croft no longer works at the Powder Room." The jury previously heard how Wellings beat Kiena several times while she was pregnant with his child and threatened her to drown her in the bath. He also threatened to drill her teeth as well as saying he would "make her look like (acid attack victim) Katie Piper.".

Wellings told Kiena to take her own life and said "hitting you is like hitting a man" and in one instance, held her head underwater in a bath and told her: "Say goodbye to your baby." Wellings was cleared of manslaughter but was convicted by the jury on the other offenses. Kiena called police at least five times reporting domestic abuse. She would downplay the abuse due to threats from Wellings but did make a statement about the abuse on July 11, just hours before her death. Wellings was arrested but was later bailed on condition he did not contact her, which he ended up doing. Kiena said in her suicide note: "‘I was murdered. Ryan Wellings killed me. He ruined every bit of strength I had left. I had dreams. I had a future at one point. That was taken away from me.’".

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.