Kiena Dawes' abuser, his girlfriend and mum appear in court charged with perverting the course of justice
A man who abused his vulnerable partner before she killed herself has appeared alongside his mum and girlfriend in court charged with perverting the course of justice.
Ryan Wellings, 31, was jailed for six and a half years in January for assaulting and coercing Kiena Dawes, who died on a railway line in Lancashire in 2022.
The mother-of-one left a note claiming he was a "monster" who had attacked her physically and emotionally for more than two years.
During his trial, it was revealed that police were investigating if his mother Lisa Green and girlfriend Emma Croft, 28, allegedly "coached" him on how to give evidence during his six-week trial at Preston Crown Court.
But it had emerged the prosecution had been told about “calls” between the defendant and his mother Lisa Green, and current girlfriend Emma Croft, who had both dutifully attended the trial to support Wellings from the public gallery.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police previously confirmed that the acts allegedly occurred between 16th December 2024 and 3rd January 2025 while a criminal trial was ongoing at Preston Crown Court.
They added: “Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, the following three people have now been charged with committing an act/series of acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice.
Wellings, 31, appeared at Preston Magistrates Court via video link, while girlfriend Emma Croft, 28, of Rose Avenue, Blackpool, and his mum Lisa Green, of Haddon Road, Bispham, attended in person.
It is believed that no pleas were entered by the trio and that a plea and trial preparation date has been fixed for next month at Preston Crown Court.
Both women were granted unconditional bail until the next court hearing.