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In 2020, '''Eleanor Williams''' made a Facebook post claiming she was the victim of a [[British Asians|British Asian]] grooming and trafficking gang.
In 2020, '''Eleanor Williams''' made a Facebook post claiming she was the victim of a [[British Asians|British Asian]] grooming and trafficking gang.


Later in 2020, the police charged Williams with [[perverting the course of justice]]. In 2023, she was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison on nine counts.<ref name="sentencing">{{cite web |author=HHJ John Altham |date=14 March 2023 |title=R -v- Eleanor Williams Sentencing Remarks |url=https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/R-v-Eleanor-Williams-sentencing.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314173035/https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/R-v-Eleanor-Williams-sentencing.pdf |archive-date=14 March 2023 |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=judiciary.uk |publisher=Preston Crown Court |quote="The local newspaper was subject to boycotts and ultimately, I am told, collapsed for financial reasons – though there is no evidence before me upon which I could conclude that this was a direct result of the boycott."}}</ref> Her appeal was rejected.
Later in 2020, the police charged Williams with [[perverting the course of justice]]. In 2023, she was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison on nine counts. Her appeal was rejected.


Williams' post went viral, being shared more than 100,000 times. The post fuelled racial tensions in Britain and sparked backlash against Asian-owned businesses in her home town of [[Barrow-in-Furness|Barrow, England]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Melley |first=Brian |date=14 March 2023 |title=Fake sex abuse claims get British woman 8.5 year prison term |work=The Independent |location= |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/eleanor-williams-ap-barrowinfurness-london-three-b2300824.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315092930/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/eleanor-williams-ap-barrowinfurness-london-three-b2300824.html |archive-date=15 March 2023}}</ref> The [[Government of the United Kingdom|UK Government]], partially in response to Williams' claims, stated their intention to introduce new social-media based criminal offenses as part of the [[Online Safety Bill]].<ref name=":1" />
Williams' post went viral, being shared more than 100,000 times. The post fuelled racial tensions in Britain and sparked backlash against Asian-owned businesses in her home town of [[Barrow-in-Furness|Barrow, England]]. The [[Government of the United Kingdom|UK Government]], partially in response to Williams' claims, stated their intention to introduce new social-media based criminal offenses as part of the [[Online Safety Bill]].


== False accusations and conviction ==
== False accusations and conviction ==
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In 2020, Williams claimed she had been passed around for sex "for years" across the North of England by an [[British Asians|Asian]] gang who drugged her, beat her, blackmailed her, and threatened her with weapons.<ref name="bbc23">{{cite news |author=McCann |first=Phil |date=3 January 2023 |title=Eleanor Williams: The grooming gang lies that sparked outrage |work=BBC |location= |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-64150026 |url-status=live |access-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103161906/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-64150026 |archive-date=3 January 2023}}</ref> In May, Williams was discovered by police with wounds to her legs and abdomen, a cut finger, and a swollen eye. She later uploaded photos of the wounds to [[Facebook]], claiming that Asian males had battered, groomed, and trafficked her. A pathologist found that her injuries, however, were consistent with being self-inflicted. A hammer that she had purchased earlier that month was found to have [[Forensic science|her DNA]] on it.<ref name="sky14" /> Williams was subsequently remanded on charges of perverting the course of justice.<ref name="guardian20" />
In 2020, Williams claimed she had been passed around for sex "for years" across the North of England by an [[British Asians|Asian]] gang who drugged her, beat her, blackmailed her, and threatened her with weapons.<ref name="bbc23">{{cite news |author=McCann |first=Phil |date=3 January 2023 |title=Eleanor Williams: The grooming gang lies that sparked outrage |work=BBC |location= |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-64150026 |url-status=live |access-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103161906/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-64150026 |archive-date=3 January 2023}}</ref> In May, Williams was discovered by police with wounds to her legs and abdomen, a cut finger, and a swollen eye. She later uploaded photos of the wounds to [[Facebook]], claiming that Asian males had battered, groomed, and trafficked her. A pathologist found that her injuries, however, were consistent with being self-inflicted. A hammer that she had purchased earlier that month was found to have [[Forensic science|her DNA]] on it.<ref name="sky14" /> Williams was subsequently remanded on charges of perverting the course of justice.<ref name="guardian20" />


In 2022, Williams was found guilty of eight counts of perverting the course of justice, pleading guilty to the ninth charge.<ref name="sentencing">{{cite web |author=HHJ John Altham |date=14 March 2023 |title=R -v- Eleanor Williams Sentencing Remarks |url=https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/R-v-Eleanor-Williams-sentencing.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314173035/https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/R-v-Eleanor-Williams-sentencing.pdf |archive-date=14 March 2023 |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=judiciary.uk |publisher=Preston Crown Court |quote="The local newspaper was subject to boycotts and ultimately, I am told, collapsed for financial reasons – though there is no evidence before me upon which I could conclude that this was a direct result of the boycott."}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Melley |first=Brian |date=14 March 2023 |title=Fake sex abuse claims get British woman 8.5 year prison term |work=The Independent |location= |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/eleanor-williams-ap-barrowinfurness-london-three-b2300824.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315092930/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/eleanor-williams-ap-barrowinfurness-london-three-b2300824.html |archive-date=15 March 2023}}</ref>
In 2022, Williams was found guilty of eight counts of perverting the course of justice, pleading guilty to the ninth charge.<ref name="sentencing" />


In March 2023, Williams was jailed for eight and a half years. She immediately appealed her conviction.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 February 2023 |title=Eleanor Williams appeals against her false rape conviction |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-64792802 |url-status=live |access-date=22 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310232010/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-64792802 |archive-date=10 March 2023}}</ref> Her request was then denied by the [[Court of Appeal (England and Wales)|Court of Appeal]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Dan |date=31 August 2023 |title=Judge makes decision on Eleanor Williams bid to appeal conviction |url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/23756229.judge-makes-decision-eleanor-williams-bid-appeal-conviction/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902061018/https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/23756229.judge-makes-decision-eleanor-williams-bid-appeal-conviction/ |archive-date=2 September 2023 |access-date=22 October 2023 |website=The Mail |language=en}}</ref> The [[Attorney General's Office (United Kingdom)|Attorney General's office]] considered appealing the sentence at the Court of Appeal for being [[Unduly lenient sentence|unduly lenient]], which could have potentially lengthened her sentence, but ultimately decided not to.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farnworth |first=Amy |date=20 April 2023 |title=Sentence appeal of woman who made false claims about grooming gangs rejected |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23462400.appeal-extend-eleanor-williams-sentence-rejected/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420180516/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23462400.appeal-extend-eleanor-williams-sentence-rejected/ |archive-date=20 April 2023 |access-date=22 October 2023 |website=Lancashire Telegraph |language=en}}</ref>
In March 2023, Williams was jailed for eight and a half years. She immediately appealed her conviction.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 February 2023 |title=Eleanor Williams appeals against her false rape conviction |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-64792802 |url-status=live |access-date=22 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310232010/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-64792802 |archive-date=10 March 2023}}</ref> Her request was then denied by the [[Court of Appeal (England and Wales)|Court of Appeal]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Dan |date=31 August 2023 |title=Judge makes decision on Eleanor Williams bid to appeal conviction |url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/23756229.judge-makes-decision-eleanor-williams-bid-appeal-conviction/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902061018/https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/23756229.judge-makes-decision-eleanor-williams-bid-appeal-conviction/ |archive-date=2 September 2023 |access-date=22 October 2023 |website=The Mail |language=en}}</ref> The [[Attorney General's Office (United Kingdom)|Attorney General's office]] considered appealing the sentence at the Court of Appeal for being [[Unduly lenient sentence|unduly lenient]], which could have potentially lengthened her sentence, but ultimately decided not to.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farnworth |first=Amy |date=20 April 2023 |title=Sentence appeal of woman who made false claims about grooming gangs rejected |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23462400.appeal-extend-eleanor-williams-sentence-rejected/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420180516/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23462400.appeal-extend-eleanor-williams-sentence-rejected/ |archive-date=20 April 2023 |access-date=22 October 2023 |website=Lancashire Telegraph |language=en}}</ref>

Revision as of 19:06, 28 October 2023

Eleanor Williams
Eleanor Williams used a hammer to inflict injuries to herself before posting her photos on Facebook
Known forMaking false claims of rape, grooming and trafficking
Criminal statusIn prison
Criminal chargeNine counts of perverting the course of justice
PenaltyEight and a half years

In 2020, Eleanor Williams made a Facebook post claiming she was the victim of a British Asian grooming and trafficking gang.

Later in 2020, the police charged Williams with perverting the course of justice. In 2023, she was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison on nine counts. Her appeal was rejected.

Williams' post went viral, being shared more than 100,000 times. The post fuelled racial tensions in Britain and sparked backlash against Asian-owned businesses in her home town of Barrow, England. The UK Government, partially in response to Williams' claims, stated their intention to introduce new social-media based criminal offenses as part of the Online Safety Bill.

False accusations and conviction

Williams' first claim was in 2017, when she was 16 years old. She stated in November 2017 that she became unwell from drinking beer and consuming marijuana while at a man's home. Williams' family was contacted by him and his companions, who then picked her up and took her to the hospital. At the hospital, she claimed she had been raped. After the accused was taken into custody in January 2018, she withdrew her support for the prosecution.[1]

In 2019, Williams made false allegations of rape against another man, causing the police to arrest and keep him in custody for three months. Williams was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, before being released pending further investigation.[2] She told police that she was trafficked to Blackpool, Ibiza, and Amsterdam. The investigation revealed she had instead booked herself into the Blackpool hotel and stayed inside. She retracted the Ibiza claim when informed her travel records would be checked. The investigation further found that she had spent her entire time in Amsterdam with her sister and her sister's boyfriend.[3]

In 2020, Williams claimed she had been passed around for sex "for years" across the North of England by an Asian gang who drugged her, beat her, blackmailed her, and threatened her with weapons.[4] In May, Williams was discovered by police with wounds to her legs and abdomen, a cut finger, and a swollen eye. She later uploaded photos of the wounds to Facebook, claiming that Asian males had battered, groomed, and trafficked her. A pathologist found that her injuries, however, were consistent with being self-inflicted. A hammer that she had purchased earlier that month was found to have her DNA on it.[1] Williams was subsequently remanded on charges of perverting the course of justice.[5]

In 2022, Williams was found guilty of eight counts of perverting the course of justice, pleading guilty to the ninth charge.[6][7]

In March 2023, Williams was jailed for eight and a half years. She immediately appealed her conviction.[8] Her request was then denied by the Court of Appeal.[9] The Attorney General's office considered appealing the sentence at the Court of Appeal for being unduly lenient, which could have potentially lengthened her sentence, but ultimately decided not to.[10]

Impact

Williams' posts went viral, with one being shared more than 100,000 times.[11] Her claims heightened racial tensions across Britain. Cumbria Police reported dealing with over 150 extra crimes following her post, of which they considered 83 to be hate crimes. The senior investigating officer for the case said that he was "shocked" at the level of racism the accusations caused.[12] The Guardian wrote that there had been reports of Indian restaurant owners having their windows smashed in Barrow.[13] Far-right activist Tommy Robinson turned up in Barrow-in-Furness, claiming to be a journalist investigating the case.[5] In a court statement, Williams stated that she did not want Robinson to come to Barrow, and that she was "devastated" by the impact her post had on the community.[14]

The Guardian reported in 2023 that three of the men falsely accused by Williams had since attempted suicide.[13]

A charity in Barrow that supports victims of sexual exploitation said many of its clients were reluctant to report abuse to police because they “don’t want to be arrested”.[15] Other victims of abuse, including Sammy Woodhouse from the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal, claimed Williams' false allegations "caused harm" to survivors and will deter others from coming forward.[16][17]

The local newspaper, The Mail, became a subject of a boycott because of its reporting on the case. In his sentencing remarks, Judge John Altham said that the boycott had potentially contributed to the newspaper's "financial collapse".[6]

In 2023, Conservative MP Simon Fell raised the consequences of Williams' case to justice ministers in Parliament. He said that the virality of her claims and its social media spread prevented the police from adequately doing their job. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Courts and Legal Services, Mike Freer, responded that the government intended to create two new offences in the Online Safety Bill (passed as the Online Safety Act 2023 in October) to address the issue. This includes criminalising "communications where a person sends information that they know to be false with the intention of causing harm".[18]

References

  1. ^ a b "Eleanor Williams: A hammer, social media messages and a Blackpool trip - how her false claims unravelled". Sky News. 14 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Eleanor Williams: Barrow woman 'hurt herself with hammer'". BBC News. 11 October 2022. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Barrow woman convicted of making false rape allegations | The Crown Prosecution Service". www.cps.gov.uk. 3 January 2023. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  4. ^ McCann, Phil (3 January 2023). "Eleanor Williams: The grooming gang lies that sparked outrage". BBC. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Appeals for calm after Tommy Robinson visits Barrow amid protests". The Guardian. 26 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b HHJ John Altham (14 March 2023). "R -v- Eleanor Williams Sentencing Remarks" (PDF). judiciary.uk. Preston Crown Court. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023. The local newspaper was subject to boycotts and ultimately, I am told, collapsed for financial reasons – though there is no evidence before me upon which I could conclude that this was a direct result of the boycott.
  7. ^ Melley, Brian (14 March 2023). "Fake sex abuse claims get British woman 8.5 year prison term". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Eleanor Williams appeals against her false rape conviction". BBC News. 28 February 2023. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  9. ^ Taylor, Dan (31 August 2023). "Judge makes decision on Eleanor Williams bid to appeal conviction". The Mail. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  10. ^ Farnworth, Amy (20 April 2023). "Sentence appeal of woman who made false claims about grooming gangs rejected". Lancashire Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Eleanor Williams case raised in call for social media rules". BBC News. 28 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  12. ^ McCann, Phil (2023-03-14). "Eleanor Williams: The lasting impact of fake rape claims". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  13. ^ a b Pidd, Helen; Pidd (14 March 2023). "Eleanor Williams jailed for eight and a half years after rape and trafficking lies". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  14. ^ Farrell, Jason (14 March 2023). "Eleanor Williams: 22-year-old who made false claims of being groomed by Asian gang sentenced to eight and a half years". Sky News. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023. She added she was "devastated" by the impact her Facebook post had on the community of Barrow.
  15. ^ "Eleanor Williams case has made abuse victims reluctant to report, says charity". The Guardian. 16 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Sexual abuse victims say Eleanor Williams case deters them from coming forward". Sky News. 18 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Eleanor Williams: False rape claims have 'caused harm' to survivors". BBC. 15 March 2023. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Court Proceedings: Social Media". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 730. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 28 March 2023.
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