Ryan Wellings’ new girlfriend, who has faithfully supported the thug in court, laid flowers for Kiena Dawes in a chilling twist that’s left the tortured mum’s friend reeling.
Brave mum Kiena Dawes was abused for years at the hands of her violent fiancé Wellings before her tragic suicide at the age of 23. The hairdresser left a note on her phone before taking her own life on July 22, 2022, which read: “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.”
Wellings, of Fleetwood, Lancashire, denied manslaughter during his trial but was found guilty of coercive control and abuse after a campaign of terror left Kiena feeling like there was nowhere left to turn. Throughout the harrowing trial, one person sat loyally supporting the convicted bully – his new girlfriend, Emma Croft, who is now said to have chillingly laid flowers for Kiena.
Kiena Dawes: Full statement of beauty salon as vile abuser’s new lover loses her job
Kiena Dawes tragically took her own life after suffering years of abuse
(
Image:
LancsLive/MEN)
The brave mum left a suicide note that said ‘Ryan Wellings killed me’
Croft, who is the spitting image of Kiena with her long brown hair, has faithfully supported Wellings, 30, at Preston Crown Court. After his guilty verdict was read out on Monday, Wellings smiled at Croft and blew her a kiss as he was led away. All the while, Kiena’s sister could be seen weeping as the verdict was read out.
And now Kiena’s best friend, Kirsty Brunn, has revealed that Croft laid flowers in memory of Kiena. Kirsty took to Facebook to express her fury at Emma’s actions in recent months, writing: “She’s even took flowers for Kiena.”
Kirsty wrote: “The few occasions I was able to be present in the court gallery she acted like she was a celebrity smirking and smiling with pure smugness.” She claimed that Emma and Ryan became a couple in April 2024, just months before he was remanded in prison, and said: “Emma Croft and Ryan Wellings are both vindictive weird individuals and deserve to rot together.”
Alongside the post, Kirsty, who Kiena previously called her ‘best friend’ on social media, shared screenshots of Emma wishing Kiena a “happy heavenly birthday” in August 2022, and sharing a tribute to her in July 2022. Croft’s status read: “Heartbreaking [broken heart emoji] the most beautiful girl inside and out [heart emoji] thinking of all your family and little girl xxxx.”
It was revealed yesterday that the beauty salon where Croft worked had publicly shared she no longer works there. The Powder Room beauty salon in Bispham reassured its clients that she was no longer an employee. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, it said: “In regards to recent media coverage, we would like to inform our clients that Emma Croft no longer works at the Powder Room.”
Kiena’s best friend has revealed Emma laid flowers for Kiena and paid chilling tributes
Wellings blew Croft a kiss in court after being found guilty of coercive control
(
Image:
PA)
It is unclear exactly when Croft’s employment at the business ended. Harrowing details of the violent abuse suffered by Kiena were played out in court. The trial was told how Wellings assaulted Kiena her while she was pregnant, and issued horrifying threats to drown her in a bath, drill her teeth and ‘make her look like Katie Piper’ by throwing acid on her face.
In the harrowing suicide note penned on her phone, Kiena had said her relationship with the landscape gardener, which started in early 2020, turned from “fairy tale to nightmare”. During the following two years, Wellings would regularly slap his partner, “rag” her by her hair and drained her of money while she worked two jobs and he was unable to hold down work.
Along with Wellings’ mum Lisa Green, Croft is now under police investigation after allegedly coaching him before he gave evidence. While on remand, Wellings made a number of calls to the pair, who attended the trial. While allowed to speak to family and friends from HMP Preston, he was not legally permitted to discuss the case with them.
Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, told the court: “He has repeatedly discussed the content and nature of the evidence with Emma Croft and Lisa Green, during giving evidence and over the Christmas period. The assessment of the prosecution is that the defendant has misconducted himself, as has Lisa Green and Emma Croft. What has occurred here is effectively a scheme to coach the defendant in the evidence he’s giving. There’s going to be an investigation into this by the police because, on the face of it, there’s been a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.”
- 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.