Harrowing 999 calls capture tragic Kiena Dawes’ desperate pleas for help when she came around, soaked in her own blood, after being knocked out by her ex.
In the first of two calls to emergency services Kiena repeats “please help me” before calling out her address and asking if the operator can hear her, then hanging up. Minutes later she calls back, clearly confused and losing blood. Kiena, 23, had been attacked by her former fiancé Ryan Wellings, 30, who has today been found not guilty of her manslaughter. Just a few days later she took her own life, unable to cope with the long campaign of abuse from her baby’s father.
In the second, longer call, Kiena is holding her baby in her arms and the infant can be heard crying as she tells the operator: “I really don’t feel very well, I need to sit down. It’s Ryan, her dad, he’s gone but there’s blood everywhere, wait I need to think, he’s gone now. My phone’s going to end up breaking because it’s covered in blood. My head is killing me, I rang my buzzer, I have a panic alarm, but it got a lot worse, he knocked me out and I’ve woken up on the hallway floor and the baby has seen me.”
Kiena Dawes: Fiancé guilty of ‘coercive behaviour’ after young mum takes her own life
Kiena Dawes with her baby daughter
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Lancashire Police)
Kiena with blood pouring down her face
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Lancashire Police)
She can be heard, trying to calm the distressed eight-month-old baby girl down before telling the operator. “I’m pouring with blood but I haven’t looked at it yet, I’ve just woken up, it’s just pouring down my face.”
Wellings faced charges of manslaughter, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour towards Kiena during a trial at Preston Crown Court, which heard he carried out a prolonged campaign of abuse before she was found dead on a railway track near Garstang, in Lancashire, in July 2022. He was found not guilty of manslaughter by the jury, but guilty of assault and controlling and coercive behaviour.
The hairdresser, from Fleetwood, had vanished earlier that day after leaving her daughter with a friend along with a suicide note on her mobile phone which said she’d been “murdered” by Wellings. She suffered multiple injuries when she was struck by a Glasgow-bound train travelling at 110 mph.
Kiena was just 23 when she died
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Lancashire Police)
Kiena says she was killed by Wellings
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Lancashire Police)
This abuse was a “significant factor” in Kiena’s decision to take her own life, it’s claimed, with Welling’s last attack coming just 11 days before she died. The jury heard about a suicide note Kiena left on her phone, which read: “The end. I fought hard, I fought long. Went through pain no one could imagine. No one will know what I went through.
“I was murdered. Slowly. They tortured me, till there was nothing left. I lost my fight but I didn’t give up my battle. I fought till the end. Ryan Wellings killed me.” The note also said, “I hope my life saves another by police services acting faster” and that she wanted her daughter “kept away from the monster who is called her dad”.
Ryan Wellings was accused of manslaughter
Wellings was found not guilty of manslaughter
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Lancashire Police)
The couple met in January 2020 and Welling’s abuse began early in their relationship – there was a “pattern” in which he behaved in an “aggressive and violent” way towards her and “then apologised and showered her with affection”. The court heard Kiena had a personality disorder that can result in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulties in relationships and Wellings “exploited this vulnerability”.
Wellings will be sentenced on Thursday.
Two women a week killed in UK by current or former partner
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
If you are affected by this story
If you are affected by this story there are many people who would be happy to talk to you:
Samaritans
If you need to talk and don’t know where to turn to, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit the website to find your local branch.
SANEline
If you or somebody you know is experiencing a mental health problem, SANEline’s helpline is open between 4.30pm and 10.30pm every day on 0300 304 7000.
Mind
The mental health charity Mind has resources aimed at helping you cope with and plan for a crisis. Visit their website for details on helplines, how to access crisis services and what to do if you’re unable to get help yourself. Support line: 0300 102 1234
*In an emergency, dial 999 for urgent help