The five missed chances to save tragic Kiena from her abusive ex revealed after ‘fairytale romance’ became a nightmare
Share:
TRAGIC Kiena Dawes took her own life after her "fairytale" romance turned into a nightmare at the hands of her abusive fiance. The mum, 23, was repeatedly assaulted and belittled by Ryan Wellings throughout their two-year relationship. Tragically, Kiena took her own life in July 2022 after telling the world in powerful final note: "I was murdered".
Wellings was yesterday cleared of manslaughter but convicted of coercive and controlling behaviour and assault. It has now emerged there were five missed opportunities to save the hairdresser before her death. Kiena had reached out to officers either to report that she had been assaulted or give details of the domestic abuse she had suffered.
On four of these occasions, officers attended her home in Fleetwood, Lancashire. Kiena also bore visible injuries to highlight the abuse - including a black eye while she was six months pregnant. One brutal attack came just 11 days before she took her own life but even this wasn't enough to lock Wellings up.
As Kiena chillingly said herself: "I was in hospital longer than he was in the cells.". Here is the heartbreaking timeline of abuse that led to Kiena's death. Kiena was introduced to dad-of-two Wellings by her brother and an "intense" relationship began.
The thug even got tattoos of her face and name within a week of meeting. But Kiena was swept off her feet by the landscape gardener and saw the relationship as a "fairytale" romance. It did not take long for Wellings to show his true colours. Kiena had sent him a message, saying: "Stop hurting me now xxxx.".