Eleanor Williams: Woman jailed over false rape claims

Three of the men Williams falsely accused tried to take their own lives

A woman who attacked herself with a hammer then falsely claimed she was raped and trafficked by an Asian grooming gang has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years.

Eleanor Williams ignited protests in her Cumbrian home town of Barrow after posting photos on social media of injuries she said were inflicted through beatings by the gang. But Preston Crown Court heard she inflicted the wounds herself using a hammer.

The 22-year-old from from Barrow-in-Furness, was convicted in January of nine counts of perverting the course of justice and sentenced on Tuesday.

Her Facebook claims of being raped and trafficked sparked a worldwide solidarity movement with its own line of merchandise, Justice for Ellie. It also ignited community tensions, with police recording 151 crimes by other people linked to the case, including 83 hate crimes.

A two-day sentencing hearing was told three men Williams falsely accused tried to take their own lives after being targeted and suffering "hell on earth".

The court heard how, in June 2019, Williams left the temporary housing provided to her by police and travelled to Blackpool, where she claimed she was "brutally raped by multiple men".

Rather, she was at a hotel, watching YouTube videos.

After being tracked down in Preston the following day, Williams told police "in great detail" how she was "brutally raped by multiple men" after being told to travel to Blackpool, and gave them the licence plate details of a car she claims was used to transport her.

The registration details were for a car she had passed while out alone in Blackpool, the court heard.

"This account was all completely false".

When confronted by evidence, Williams claimed she was forced to give a false account by the traffickers.