A woman who fabricated claims of being raped by multiple men and trafficked by an Asian grooming gang has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison. Eleanor Williams, 22, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice after posting photos of self-inflicted injuries on social media, which she falsely attributed to beatings.
Preston Crown Court heard that Williams’s allegations, which spanned three years, led to three men being falsely accused. One of them, Jordan Trengove, spent 73 days in prison after being charged with rape. Another, Oliver Gardner, was sectioned under the Mental Health Act, and businessman Mohammed Ramzan received death threats after being accused of grooming and trafficking Williams.
The court was told that Williams inflicted the wounds on herself with a hammer. Police investigations revealed that her claims of being taken to Blackpool and forced into prostitution were fabricated; in reality, she had travelled alone, bought a Pot Noodle, and stayed in her hotel room watching YouTube.
Judge Robert Altham described Williams’s allegations as “complete fiction” and noted a lack of remorse. He said she had gone to “extraordinary lengths” to create false accusations, including causing herself significant injury. The judge highlighted the “state of heightened tension” in Barrow following Williams’s social media posts, which sparked protests and threats against police.
In a letter read to the court, Williams expressed regret for the “trouble caused” but did not accept her guilt. She has launched an appeal against her conviction. Speaking outside court, Mr Trengove said the sentence was not long enough, while Mr Ramzan expressed sadness, stating, “Mud sticks and I fear it may take some time” to recover.
