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A woman who made false allegations of rape and trafficking against an Asian grooming gang has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison. Eleanor Williams, a resident of Cumbrian town Barrow, had caused widespread outrage and protests after sharing photos on social media purporting to show injuries inflicted by her abusers.
However, it was revealed in Preston Crown Court that Williams had in fact inflicted the injuries herself, using a hammer. She was subsequently found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
During the two-day sentencing hearing, the court heard how the three men falsely accused by Williams had suffered severe mental and emotional trauma, with some attempting to take their own lives. Jordan Trengove, one of the accused, spent over two months in prison, where he shared a cell with a convicted sex offender. He had also been subjected to vandalism, with the word "rapist" spray painted across his house.
The judge presiding over the case, Judge Simon Medland QC, called Williams' actions "utterly wicked" and stated that she had caused "untold harm" to innocent people. He also emphasized the damage done to genuine survivors of sexual violence by Williams' false allegations, noting that it "undermined the credibility" of those who had experienced real abuse.