However John Jones KC, defending Wellings, argued that the relationship was not completely characterised by abuse.
“It’s wrong to say the coercive and controlling relationship was in existence throughout,” he said.
“There were good and bad times.”
Sentencing Wellings, Judge Robert Altham, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, branded the defendant “a clear danger to any partner” who had “shown no remorse”.
“Kiena Dawes was a popular, vivacious, friendly young woman,” he said.
“She had history of mental illness. Through no fault of hers, she was vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.”
Judge Altham described how Wellings followed a “pattern of assaulting and mistreating her and promising to change, only to do it again”.
“You disparaged her appearance and said her dead father would be ashamed of her, that she was fat and ugly and incompetent at her work”, he added.
Wellings smiled as he was taken down to the cells.
Angela Dawes earlier told the court she would raise her granddaughter, describing it as an “honour and a privilege”.
“[The child] has already asked me where her mummy is, I found it impossible to answer that question,” she said.
