Domestic abuse victim, 23, who killed herself was 'let down by police', family say

WARNING: Article contains graphic images

An "amazing and bubbly" mum who took her own life after allegedly being the victim of domestic abuse was "let down" by police, her family have said.

Kiena Dawes, 23, had left her nine-month-old daughter, Marnie, with a close friend just hours before her body was found on Friday.

Just 11 days earlier, Kiena was allegedly assaulted by a man who her family said she should have been protected from.

Panic alarms had been installed in her home, but her brother Kynan revealed shocking pictures of her injuries from the reported attack which happened after they had been fitted.

A 28-year-old man from Fleetwood has been arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm and released on bail pending inquiries.

Kynan, 29, called Kiena an “amazing young girl” and said that the “bubbly” mum had just wanted a “happy life”.

Speaking today, Kynan has criticised Lancashire Constabulary after it emerged the force had referred itself to a police watchdog due to their contact with Kiena before her death.

The builder from Blackpool, said: “The police have let my sister down. They did not do enough. The head of CID is going to go through everything with a toothpick.

“They’re going to find out why nothing happened, and why it got to the point where she felt she wasn’t being looked after by the service, which she should be, and decided to take her life.

“She had panic alarms fitted in her house and a panic alarm fitted around her neck.

“My sister left a note before she killed herself, on her phone. The facts why she killed herself are stated in that note. In time, that may get shared but not now.”

He added: “The girl was very, very well loved. She never said a bad word about anybody. She just wanted to live a happy little life."

Kiena’s body was recovered from train tracks near the town of Garstang, Lancashire, as friends and family conducted a frantic search for her in nearby streets and alleyways.

But before they could locate her, they got the terrible news that her body had been found on a rail line just after 1pm, on Friday.

Kynan said Kiena had sought the help of police five weeks earlier following allegations that she'd been assaulted on multiple occasions.

He said Lancashire Police had fitted her home with a panic alarm and given her a special neckless that had a button she could press if she felt like she was in danger.

But Kynan said this hadn't stopped her attacker coming to her home on 11 July, before he allegedly split her head open, leaving her completely traumatised.

And he said the local police should have done more to help her as she attempted to bring her alleged attacker to court.

He said: “The police have let my sister down, they have. She wanted to go through the legal route to get justice.

“The girl is dead now, but it should have gone to CPS ages ago. She didn’t want to live a life the way she was living, so she ended it.”

Kynan said his sister had spent her early life growing up in Cyprus before moving to the UK, and later settling in Fleetwood, Lancs.

He said she had then trained as a hairdresser and began working at a local shop and had "absolutely loved" her job

He said: “Kiena was the most amazing little girl from when she was first born. She was very bubbly, very nice. We moved to Cyprus. She used to speak fluent Greek.

“She had loads of friends in Cyprus. And then we moved back to the UK as my dad had an accident, which did knock her.

“She was a hairdresser. She used to work at Rory Blair in Fleetwood. She absolutely loved her job, she was really good at it.

“She loved having a tan. She would go on the sun beds all the time. All the sun bed shops have been in touch saying, ‘We’ll miss her, she used to come in.’ She was just amazing.”

A spokesperson for British Transport Police confirmed they were not treating the death as suspicious.

They said: “British Transport Police were called to the line in Preston at 1.05 pm on Friday 22 July following reports of a casualty on the tracks.

“Paramedics also attended, however sadly a woman was pronounced dead at the scene. This incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.’”

A spokesperson for Lancashire Constabulary confirmed that the force had referred itself to the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) due to their contact with Kiena.

They said: “First and foremost our thoughts are with Kiena’s loved ones at this difficult time.

“We have referred ourselves to the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) in relation to contact we had with Kiena before her death.

“Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.

If you are in need of emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website, www.samaritans.org.