Ryan Wellings, 30, is on trial for the manslaughter of his former partner Kiena Dawes. He denies the charges, but admitted to assaulting a previous partner during a drug and alcohol-fueled episode.
A man accused of killing his partner through two years of domestic abuse admitted he had assaulted a previous partner after a two-day drink and drugs binge. Ryan Wellings, 30, appeared in the witness box at Preston Crown Court charged with ABH, coercive control and manslaughter of young mum Kiena Dawes. Wellings, of Bispham, Lancs, denies the charges after Kiena took her own life in July 2022. He told the jury he had been taking cocaine since he was 18 and 'had a problem' with the class A drug.
The father-of-three, described 'binges' where he would use up to 20 bags of cocaine - around £400 of the drug. In January 2019 he said he 'nipped' to visit his uncle, but ended up staying for two days, drinking and taking drugs. The court heard that when his former partner collected him there was an argument in the car and Wellings took hold of the steering wheel. He struck her to the back of the head and also tried to hit his father, who was attempting to intervene. He then “smashed the car up”, he said. However Wellings told the jury he pleaded guilty to common assault after being charged with the offence. He and the woman later separated. A year later, Wellings began a relationship with hairdresser Kiena Dawes. He said he was using cocaine in the period before they met. The prosecution allege that throughout their relationship, Wellings controlled Kiena, damaged her property and assaulted her on July 11, 2022. Kiena was treated in hospital for injuries to her head and Wellings was arrested in Blackpool the same day. However while on bail it is alleged Wellings made a threatening phone call to Kiena in which he said he would send people to her mother’s house, where she was staying. John Jones KC, defending, highlighted text messages between the couple which seemed to show 'swings' from love and affection to hostility, often in short spaces of tim
Domestic Abuse Manslaughter Assault Coercive Control Drug Addiction
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