The beauty salon where Ryan Wellings’ new girlfriend was employed has confirmed she is no longer working there.
Emma Croft, who worked at The Powder Room beauty salon in Bispham, loyally sat in the public gallery to support Wellings during his trial at Preston Crown Court, where he faced charges of manslaughter, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour towards his former partner Kiena Dawes. The 23-year-old tragically took her own life at a Lancashire train station in 2022.
Landscape gardener Wellings was convicted of assault and controlling and coercive behaviour and will be sentenced today (January 16). He 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.
“We ask that others are kind and respectful to all staff who work hard to make our salon an inviting place and have nothing to do with the situation that has arisen. Police are aware of recent media comments and are staying in close contact with the salon. Thank you.”
The Powder Room issued this statement on Facebook
It is unclear exactly when Miss Croft’s employment at the business ended, the Mirror reports. Following Wellings’ conviction on Monday, it has since been revealed that Miss Croft and Wellings’ mother Lisa Green are both under police investigation for allegedly “coaching” him to give evidence.
Before the jury was brought back into court on the first day back after Christmas during the six-week trial, Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, told the trial judge, the Honorary Recorder of Preston Robert Altham, that there had been “developments” during the break.
Wellings, being held at HMP Preston, was in the middle of giving evidence – and while entitled to speak to family and friends, he was not legally allowed to discuss his case with them. 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.
Kiena Dawes
Wellings was cleared of the unlawful killing of Kiena who left a suicide note calling her partner a “monster” who had “killed me”. She left the note and their nine-month-old daughter with a friend before taking her own life on a railway line on July 22 2022.
Prosecutors took the highly unusual step of charging Wellings with manslaughter and he was the first defendant to face trial for the unlawful killing of his partner after her suicide following domestic violence. He was cleared of manslaughter by the jury on Monday following a six-week trial.
You don’t have to suffer in silence if you’re struggling with your mental health.
Here are some groups you can contact:
Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence.
Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won’t show up on your bill.
PAPYRUS: Suicide prevention charity offering professional help and support to children, young people and anyone concerned for someone struggling with life. Call HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039 967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org.
Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression. No helpline, but it offers useful resources and links to other information.
Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal. Click here to visit.
Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying. Click here.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. There is a helpline: 0800 58 58 58 or visit the website.
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