Eleanor Williams Jailed Over False Rape Claims

A woman who falsely claimed she was raped by multiple men and trafficked by an Asian grooming gang has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years.

Eleanor Williams sparked protests in her Cumbrian hometown of Barrow after posting photos on social media of injuries she said were from beatings.

But Preston Crown Court heard she inflicted the wounds herself using a hammer.

Williams, 22, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

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A two-day sentencing hearing was told three men Williams falsely accused over a three-year period tried to take their own lives after beingand suffering "hell on earth".

Jordan Trengove was imprisoned for 73 days and had to share a cell with a convicted sex offender after being charged based on the claims made by Williams. The incident occurred after they had a night out in March 2019, during which Williams became intoxicated and was taken home. 

Later, Williams accused Mr. Trengove of raping her that night, as well as on two other occasions, alleging that he had threatened her with a knife during the attacks. The court was informed that the word "rapist" had been spray-painted across Mr. Trengove's house.

According to Williams, Barrow businessman Mohammed Ramzan had employed her from the age of 12 and forced her to work in brothels in Amsterdam. Ramzan claimed that he had received numerous death threats on social media. Williams had told the police that Ramzan had taken her to Blackpool, where she was taken to various locations and coerced into having sexual intercourse with multiple men.

Upon conducting investigations, the police discovered that Williams had traveled to the seaside town by herself and checked into a hotel. She had only bought a Pot Noodle from a nearby store and spent the rest of her time in her room watching YouTube.

In a separate incident, Oliver Gardner claimed that he was falsely accused of being a rapist who had trafficked Williams and sold her to two Asian men after having a chance encounter with her in Preston one night.
After being accused, Oliver Gardner was placed under the Mental Health Act. The Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham, noted that Williams had faced challenges from a young age and had a record of self-harming.

The judge acknowledged the severity of Williams' accusations and expressed concern about the lack of remorse or explanation for her actions. He characterized her claims as entirely fabricated and emphasized that unless she chose to disclose her motivations for lying, they would remain unknown.

The judge further noted that Williams had gone to great lengths to fabricate her accusations, even causing herself harm. Her claims had created a state of heightened tension in Barrow for several months, with the police describing the turbulence as unprecedented in the town's recent history.

During the trial, the court was informed that the local police force received threats on social media, and protesters organized a caravan of vehicles from Barrow to Ulverston and back after Williams posted pictures on Facebook in May 2020. Demonstrations were held outside the police station and in a retail park. The court also viewed videos of a visit to the town by Tommy Robinson, the founder of the English Defence League.

Judge Altham said: "Police were under pressure from those who believed they were complicit in a cover-up on one hand and those who felt unsafe at the hands of vigilantes on the other."

Before Judge Altham began his sentencing remarks, the defense read a letter from Williams in which she said she knew she had "done wrong over some of this" and was "sorry" but added she did not accept she was guilty.

She said she was "devastated" by the "trouble caused" by her Facebook post and added, "if I knew what consequences would come from the status I would never have written it".She said, "anything that happened in the community was not instigated by me and my family did not want Tommy Robinson in town".  

Upon being sentenced, Mr. Trengove expressed his dissatisfaction with the length of the sentence and informed reporters that he intended to take legal action against the police
Meanwhile, Mr. Ramzan said he felt "no sense of triumph, only sadness", adding: "I'm not sure how the family and I are going to recover from this. Mud sticks and I fear it may take some time."

In January, Williams was convicted of eight counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice and had previously admitted to one further count. However, she recently announced that she had filed an appeal against her conviction.

Supt Matthew Pearman of Cumbria Police affirmed that Williams' allegations were taken very seriously when she first reported them and that a significant investigation had been launched.

"This has been a lengthy, complex, and ultimately tragic case, as well as a dark period for Barrow," he said.

"I hope that the full story, now it is in the public domain, will demonstrate that the police take allegations of sexual and physical abuse extremely seriously and will investigate thoroughly.

"I urge anyone who has been the victim of sexual or physical abuse to report it today. You will be listened to and supported." 

Source: BBC