Kiena Dawes: Full statement of beauty salon as vile abuser's new lover loses her job

The beauty salon at which the new lover of twisted abuser Ryan Wellings worked - as she faithfully supported the thug amid his trial - reassured its clients she is no longer an employee.

Emma Croft has lost her role at The Powder Room, a beauty salon in Bispham, Blackpool, the business confirmed on Wednesday. She had loyally sat in the public gallery to support Wellings, 30, as he was cleared of manslaughter - following the suicide of 23-year-old Kiena Dawes.

But the yob was convicted of assault and controlling and coercive behaviour and he will be sentenced today at Preston Crown Court. Wellings blew a kiss to Miss Croft in court as he was led away following his conviction.

It led to The Powder Room facing scrutiny over its links to Miss Croft but, in a statement posted on Facebook on Wednesday, it said in full: "In regards to recent media coverage, we would like to inform our clients that Emma Croft no longer works at the Powder Room."

It is unclear exactly when Miss Croft's employment at the business ended but the long-haired brunette, who bears a chilling resemblance to Miss Dawes, had supported Wellings throughout the trial at Preston Crown Court.

Miss Dawes had endured two years of abuse at the hands of Wellings, who had told jurors "I'm not a monster", claiming her allegations were either untrue or exaggerated and any injuries to her accidental.

Wellings, of Bispham, made no reaction as the verdicts were read out in silence to a packed courtroom. The jury was told Miss Dawes, a hairdresser, said in harrowing suicide note penned on her phone: "Ryan Wellings killed me" before she was discovered dead on a railway line in July 2022.

She had said her relationship with the landscape gardener, which started in early 2020, turned from "fairy tale to nightmare". During the following two years, dad-of-two Wellings would regularly slap his partner, "rag" her by her hair and say threats to use a drill to take out her teeth, and "make her look like Katie Piper" by throwing acid in her face.

Wellings also sponged off her, unable to hold down work, securing and leaving 22 jobs and draining her of money while she worked two jobs. Wellings claimed £15,000 in Covid loans during lockdown he spent on hotels, £1,800 golf clubs and drugs. After she became pregnant, Wellings gave her a black eye and began criticising her weight, calling her a "fat little bitch" while contacting escorts and prostitute online.

Along with Wellings' mum Lisa Green, Miss 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 [email protected] 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