Woman sentenced for revenge attack on man she blames for sister Kiena Dawes' suicide

Leona Dawes, 32, was seeking vengeance for the death of her sister Kiena who tragically took her own life on the railway near Garstang in July last year.

Following her death, Kiena’s family claimed the 23-year-old – mum to a 9-month-old daughter – had been the victim of domestic abuse at the hands of the baby’s father, Ryan Wellings.

The family believe the alleged abuse caused her to take her own life and Blackpool Magistrates heard she left a suicide note saying Kiena felt she had been let down by police and the justice system.

In the note, she accused the authorities of failing to protect her despite Lancashire Police agreeing to provide domestic violence victim care to help keep her safe.

On July 11 – just days before her death – a 28-year-old man from Fleetwood was arrested on suspicion of assaulting Kiena. He was later bailed pending further investigation.

Despite the allegations, Lancashire Police said the man has not been charged with any offence to this date, but confirmed enquiries are ongoing and he remains on bail in relation to the incident on July 11, 2022.

Sister’s revenge attack

On Friday, March 10, Kiena’s sister Leona Dawes was brought before Blackpool Magistrates to be sentenced for an incident in which police were called to a home in Blackpool on Friday, February 10.

Ms Dawes, of Cudworth Road, St Annes, admitted being armed with knives when she visited the home where Ryan Wellings was staying to seek vengeance for her sister’s death.

The court heard she was taken to the house by taxi from St Annes and a statement from the driver told how she had demanded to stop at a pub for a drink on the way.

She had been drinking for two days before making her cab journey and on that day is thought to have drunk over two bottles of white wine.

On the journey, the taxi driver reported hearing her say: “I am going to get justice for my sister. He (Wellings) is going to get what is coming to him."

The court heard Leona had been struggling with her sister’s death and the circumstances around it had been ‘preying on her mind’ when she visited the home.

Shortly after dropping her off in Chive Close, the cabbie saw Dawes kicking at the front door and demanded Wellings come outside to face her.

Dawes had a knife in her coat pocket and a scuffle broke out between her and Wellings. A second knife then spilled from her handbag as he tried to restrain her by pinning her down outside the house.

The taxi driver said he alerted police after the row escalated into violence.

In a statement by Wellings which was read out at court, he said Dawes told him: "I am going to kill you!"

He explained that he and Kiena had been partners and had a child together – a daughter he now wished to see.

Wellings admitted there had been incidents subject to police investigation in the days after the couple’s acrimonious break up, with one incident occurring just days before her death on the railway.

He said he was aware Leona had a knife when she turned up at the home in Chive Close, owned by his friend and former partner Kayleigh Anderson.

Ms Anderson arrived soon after and was also attacked by Dawes, who pulled her hair. She also heard Dawes screaming at Wellings, telling him "You killed my sister!".

Anderson heard Wellings reply: “No I loved your sister and I lost our daughter."

Police arrived at the scene and Dawes was arrested. Officers seized CCTV from the taxi and this footage was provided as evidence in the case against her.

In body cam footage, Dawes was seen telling police: “I wanted him to die. I f*****g meant it. I do not lie."

Prosecutor Pam Smith asked magistrates to send Dawes for sentence at Preston Crown Court as she claimed magistrates’ powers were insufficient.

But Gerry Coyle, defending, successfully persuaded magistrates to retain jurisdiction. He said there were mitigating circumstances and said his client had no previous convictions.

He added: “This lady and her family have been left devastated by their youngest sister's suicide and the note she left saying she had been let down by the system."

The court heard that a Lancashire Police officer has been served with a gross misconduct notice over his handling of the domestic violence cases involving Kiena Dawes which led to her tragic death.

The gross misconduct notice was the result of an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into the circumstances surrounding Kiena’s death.

You can read more about the officer accused of gross misconduct and why the police watchdog investigated Lancashire Police over Kiena’s death here.

Leona Dawes spared jail

Bench chairman Stephen Fairclough sentenced Dawes stating that the mitigating circumstances allowed magistrates to lower the custody sentence on all charges to one year's jail suspended for 18 months .

He told her: “You have been sober since this incident and taken help."

Dawes must complete 25 rehabilitation days and pay £400 compensation. In addition, she must undertake 120 days alcohol monitoring.

The NHS healthcare worker also admitted criminal damage worth £200 to the front door of the home in Chive Close while trying to force her way inside.

She must comply with a 18 month restraining order banning her from contacting Ryan Wellings or Kayleigh Anderson and from entering Chive Close.