False Claims Of Rape And Trafficking Lead To 8.5-Year Sentence For Woman

Listen to this article False Claims Of Rape And Trafficking Lead To 8.5-Year Sentence For Woman

Introduction

The court convicted a woman of perverting the course of justice for false claims that she was raped and trafficked by an Asian grooming gang. They sentenced her to eight-and-a-half years in prison as a consequence. The case of Eleanor Williams, a 22-year-old resident of Barrow in Cumbria, sparked protests in her hometown after she posted photos on social media of injuries she said were from beatings.

Self-Inflicted Injuries

The trial at Preston Crown Court revealed that Williams had inflicted the wounds on herself using a hammer. The prosecution argued that Williams had fabricated her allegations against a group of Asian men over a three-year period, causing “hell on earth” for the three men she falsely accused. During Williams’ accusations, authorities charged and imprisoned Jordan Trengove for 73 days, making him one of the affected men. While incarcerated, he shared a cell with a convicted sex offender. Furthermore, the court heard that someone had spray-painted the word “rapist” on his house as an act of vandalism.

False Allegations

In March 2019, Williams went out for a night and became intoxicated, so someone took her home. Later, Williams accused Trengove of raping her that night and on two other occasions. She claimed that he assaulted her and threatened her with a knife.The court heard that Williams falsely accused Barrow businessman Mohammed Ramzan of grooming her from the age of 12 and putting her to work in brothels in Amsterdam. Ramzan denied the allegations and said he had received “countless death threats” on social media.

Inquiries by the police found that Williams had travelled to Blackpool alone and stayed in a hotel, where she bought a Pot Noodle from a nearby shop and then stayed in her room watching YouTube. Oliver Gardner claimed that Williams accused him of being a rapist who had trafficked and sold her to two Asian men after a chance encounter in Preston one night. The accusations led to him being sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Sentencing and Lack of Remorse

Honorary Recorder of Preston Judge Robert Altham said Williams had experienced difficulties since childhood and had a history of self-harm. However, he said her allegations were of the utmost severity and it was troubling there had been “no significant sign of remorse” and “no explanation why the defendant would commit these offences.” The judge added that Williams had gone to “extraordinary lengths” to create false accusations, including causing herself significant injury.

Impact on the Community

The claims had created a “state of heightened tension” in Barrow for about four months, according to Judge Altham, with police describing the turbulence as being like nothing seen in the town for decades. In May 2020, after Williams shared pictures on Facebook, local demonstrators travelled from Barrow to Ulverston in vehicles and made social media threats against the local police force. They held protests outside the police station and on a retail park. During the court proceedings, they presented videos of English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson’s appearance in the town.

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