Mum said partner threatened acid attack, jury told

Lancashire Police Head and shoulders image of Kiena Dawes on a beach, she has long straight dark hair and is smilingLancashire Police
Kiena Dawes took her own life in July 2022, the court heard

A man accused of driving his partner to take her own life through domestic violence and abuse threatened to throw acid in her face, a court heard.

Ryan Wellings, 30, denies the manslaughter of Kiena Dawes, 23, who left a note before her death saying, "I was murdered … Ryan Wellings killed me."

She left her young daughter with a friend before taking her own life on 22 July 2022.

Preston Crown Court heard Miss Dawes told a friend that Mr Wellings threatened her, saying: "I'll throw acid in your face and watch it burn."

'Fairy tale turned nightmare'

The hairdresser, from Fleetwood, met the defendant in January 2020 and was "swept off her feet", her mother told the court.

He had her name and face tattooed on his body just a week later and proposed marriage within three months.

But it is alleged that Mr Wellings began physically and emotionally abusing Miss Dawes soon after, and she told a friend their relationship was a "fairy tale turned into a nightmare".

He is also accused of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour between January 2020 and July 2022, which he denies.

On Monday, the third week of the trial, jurors were told of messages sent by Miss Dawes to her friend alleging Mr Wellings's threats.

One message from Miss Dawes about him read: "He's seen my story on Instagram.

"Said if I don't delete it and speak to a lad he'll throw acid in my face.

"His words were 'You know Fearne McCann? What her boyfriend did? Remember I'll do the same. I'll throw acid in your face and watch it burn'.

"He said no one would ever want to look at stretch marks from pregnancy on my hips. I'm a disgusting fat bitch.

"That's because I saw him on dating sites."

Jurors have heard how Mr Wellings allegedly slapped and attacked Miss Dawes, who told another friend: "Been bullied till there's nothing left of me."

Lawyers for Mr Wellings, of Bispham, Lancashire, told jurors that Miss Dawes was a "troubled" woman, whose mental health issues pre-dated meeting him and her decision to end her own life was the result of "multiple factors".

Earlier, the court heard Miss Dawes felt "let down" by Lancashire Police because, after Wellings had been arrested for allegedly assaulting her on 11 July 2022, he had contacted her again with abuse, on the face of it a breach of his bail conditions, but no action was taken against him.

Eleven days later she took her own life.

The trial continues.

Additional reporting by PA.

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