Emma Croft, who supported Ryan Wellings during his trial after his assault and years of domestic abuse of Kiena Dawes, lost her job at The Powder Room, a beauty salon in Blackpool, Lancashire
The new girlfriend of Kiena Dawes’ twisted abuser is “besotted” with him – and knew his tragic victim, friends have claimed.
Ryan Wellings, 30, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison on Thursday after subjecting his former fiancée to years of horrific abuse. Ms Dawes, 23, left a suicide note calling her partner a “monster” who had “killed me” but Wellings was cleared of manslaughter.
The landscape gardener was, though, convicted of assault and controlling and coercive behaviour after a six-week trial, during which current girlfriend Emma Croft supported the man. Wellings blew her a kiss at Preston Crown Court as he was sent to the cells upon his conviction this week.
But angry friends have now hit out at Ms Croft, who it has emerged lost her job as a nail technician at The Powder Room in Blackpool, Lancashire, amid the media attention the business faced. The 28-year-old woman knew Ms Dawes, it has emerged, and only started dating Wellings after he had been charged over her death last year.
“They started going out last summer – he’d already been charged over Kiena’s death, but at that time he was on bail. Later he was remanded in custody, but she still kept on visiting him. All her friends told her she was making a big mistake, but she just kept saying ‘there are two sides to every story’ and that we didn’t know the truth,” one person who said they were close to Ms Croft said.
“The more we heard about what went on with poor Kiena, the more horrified we all were. For this monster to be blowing kisses to Emma in court really turns my stomach.”
The source said Ms Croft’s decision to stand by her violent boyfriend had come at a cost. They told Mail Online: “As a result of her relationship with Ryan she’s lost a lot of her friends and now her job, but she doesn’t seem able to see him for what he is, though as far as we know, he’s never actually abused her.”
It is said Ms Croft no longer works as a nail technician at The Powder Room because the owner of the firm found the controversy surrounding her alleged involvement in the case was harming business.
In a Facebook post yesterday, The Powder Room announced: “Please Read. In regards to recent media coverage, we would like to inform our clients that Emma Croft no longer works at The Powder Room.
“We ask that others are kind and respectful towards all staff who work hard to make our salon an inviting place and have nothing to do with the situation that has arisen.
“He was the first defendant to be tried before a jury accused of the unlawful killing of his partner after her suicide following domestic violence, but was found not guilty. He turned and blew a kiss to Croft as the verdict was read out, while Ms Dawes’ sister burst into tears. Police are aware of recent media comments and are staying in close contact with the owners of the salon. Thank you.”
Over Christmas – before Wellings had been cleared of manslaughter charges against him – he gifted Ms Croft, a lookalike of Ms Dawes, a spa day treat. On December 25, Ms Croft proudly posted on Instagram an image of the Virgin Experience Day card for the spa day at Bibby Hall in Lancashire, the gift from Wellings.
Ms Croft, and Wellings’ mother Lisa Green face a police investigation for allegedly “coaching” him to give evidence in court. Speaking to the trial judge, the Honorary Recorder of Preston Robert Altham, the prosecuting lawyer Paul Greaney KC said: “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
