Connect with us

Published

on

A 22-year-old woman, whose lies caused a storm of anger and protests after she falsely claimed she was the victim of an Asian grooming gang, has been jailed for eight and a half years.

Eleanor Williams was today sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

She fabricated evidence to make it look like she was a victim of multiple men.

WARNING: This article contains images people may find distressing

Eleanor Williams, 22, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice
Image:
Eleanor Williams, 22, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice

The senior investigating officer, Doug Marshall, told Sky News: “I’ve had cases where people have told lies, but never to this extent.”

He added that if Williams hadn’t been charged “it just wouldn’t have stopped”.

Sentencing Williams, Honorary Recorder of Preston Judge Robert Altham, said: “It is troubling to say the least that she shows no significant signs of remorse.”

He said there was no explanation for why the defendant made the allegations, which he described as “complete fiction”.

“Unless and until the defendant chooses to say why she has told these lies we will not know,” he added.

At the sentencing hearing in Preston Crown Court on Monday, three men Williams had falsely accused of attacking her said they had tried to take their own lives because of her accusations.

Mohammed Ramzan, who was accused by Williams of rape and trafficking, said he had tried to kill himself two weeks after being arrested. He said: “I still bear the scars to this day.”

Speaking outside the court after Williams was jailed, Mr Ramzan said, “I am not sure how my family and I are going to recover from this”, but added they were “determined to move forward positively” with their lives.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Victims on impact of false accusations on their lives

In a statement read to the court, another of Williams’ victims, Jordan Trengove, said the word “rapist” had been sprayed on his house and that he’d tried to end his life in August 2020.

“I’ve not been able to leave the house, I’ve not been able to go to work,” he told Sky News after the sentencing.

“Though it’s a relief that she’s locked away, Mr Trengove added he wished the prison term “was a bit longer”.

Another man, Oliver Gardner, gave a statement saying he was sectioned after trying to end his life because of the claims.

Even though four of the men she’d accused were white, Asian business owners were impacted after Williams posted pictures of injuries to her face and body on Facebook in May 2020.

Two owners of local Indian restaurants who didn’t want to be named told Sky News they had bricks thrown through their windows and were spat at in the street. One said he lost 90% of his customers in the immediate aftermath of the claims.

Police say more than 150 crimes were committed, by others, as a result of Williams’ false claims.

Mohammed Ramzan
Image:
Mohammed Ramzan said he tried to take his own life

They say they initially began investigating the sexual abuse allegations, but the case took a turn when they realised Williams had booked herself into a hotel at a time when she claimed she was being sold for sex in several properties in Blackpool.

CCTV showed her checking in. Phone records suggested she stayed in her room watching videos, apart from a brief trip to a nearby store to buy a pot noodle and chocolate.

Further investigations showed Williams had set up fake social media accounts to message herself, to make it appear that she was receiving messages from abusers.

Claims that Mr Ramzan tried to auction her in Amsterdam and traffic her to Ibiza were also demonstrably untrue.

But, speaking exclusively to Sky News, her sister Lucy said Williams’ phone messages “were constant… asking her to go out, to wear certain types of clothing, to make sure she looks good for tonight. It was all very weird”. She said she also watched the messages come through and even filmed threatening snapchats such as an image of a gun and machetes.

Lucy Williams accepts several of her sister’s claims were untrue, such as her being auctioned in Amsterdam, as she’d been with her on that trip. Nor does Lucy believe that her sister went to sex parties from the age of 12, as they shared a room together, and she would have noticed.

However, she is convinced there were men, not included on the charge sheet, who did intimidate and harm Williams.

Eleanor Williams
Image:
The injuries Eleanor Williams claims were caused by her attackers were self-inflicted, the court heard
Eleanor Williams

Describing one evening, she said: “One of the men was harassing Ellie at the bar and some of our friends had seen it and they’d warned him off. And there was a takeaway around the corner from the nightclub, and Ellie was coming home that night with me.

“He grabbed her outside of the takeaway, and started pulling her arm saying, ‘come on we’re going’. And she was like, ‘no I’m going with my sister’, and his face, he was so angry with her. She did come home with me, and then the next weekend she came back black and blue, worse than we’ve ever seen.”

Lucy says her sister begged her not to go to the police, even when she repeatedly came home with bruises, culminating in injuries Lucy photographed in May 2020 that Eleanor posted on Facebook, claiming she was being abused.

It was the prosecution’s case that Williams inflicted these injuries upon herself in an effort to support her lies. CCTV of her buying a hammer in Tesco was shown in court, similar to one found in the field where Williams was discovered with her wounds.

A pathologist gave evidence that bruising to her face, arms, back and legs, were consistent with being self-inflicted by a hammer of the same type.

In January, a jury found Williams guilty on all nine counts of perverting the course of justice.

In a statement read out by the defence, Williams said: “I know I’ve made some mistakes and I am sorry. I was young and confused. I’m not saying I am guilty, but I know I have done some wrong and so I’m sorry.”

She added she was “devastated” by the impact her Facebook post had on the community of Barrow.

Eleanor Williams' mother, Allison Johnston
Image:
Eleanor Williams’ mother, Allison Johnston

Her mother, Allison, also spoke to Sky News, and tearfully talked about the moment the verdict came in. She said: “I can’t describe it. I still can’t take it in really. It just doesn’t feel real. The person the press are portraying is not the person I know.”

She accepts her daughter told lies but said: “I believe she was just trying to get people to listen to her.”

However, the men who faced false allegations, and people in Barrow who feel they were deceived, will all welcome the fact that Williams is behind bars.

Continue Reading

UK

Brother of Virginia Giuffre praises King over Andrew decision – and urges him to pressure Trump over Epstein files

Published

on

By

Brother of Virginia Giuffre praises King over Andrew decision - and urges him to pressure Trump over Epstein files

The brother of Virginia Giuffre has praised the King’s decision to strip his brother Andrew of his titles – and has called on him to pressure Donald Trump into releasing the Epstein files.

Speaking to Gareth Barlow on Sky News, Sky Roberts said the King had “set a precedent to the rest of the world” that he was standing with survivors of abuse.

“But it’s not enough. He’s [Andrew] is still walking around a free man. He’s not going to be living on the side of the road. He should be investigated,” he said.

Mr Roberts also accused the US government of “safeguarding documents of people that are implicated” with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and his ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

“We need to fully investigate them. He should tell President Trump ‘put your big boy pants on’, and let’s get these Epstein files released so that we can go after these monsters properly.”

Ms Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year, claimed that – as a teenager – she had sex with Andrew on three occasions after being trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell.

Andrew has always denied Ms Giuffre’s allegations. Ms Giuffre sued in 2021, and the case was settled outside court for a sum believed to have been around £12m.

Andrew latest: Follow updates after royal stripped of his titles

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

‘Huge’ part of royal statement you might have missed

In a previous statement, issued on Thursday after the announcement that Andrew will be stripped of his royal titles, the family said Ms Giuffre “never stopped fighting for accountability for what had happened to her and to countless other survivors like her”.

“An ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage,” the family said, adding, “she declares victory”.

The family vowed to continue fighting until “all of the abusers and abettors connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell” are brought to justice.

The disgraced royal will now be treated as a commoner and go by the name Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

‘Virginia should be here celebrating’

Elsewhere in the interview, Mr Roberts said the family has felt “a mixed bag of emotions” since the palace’s latest announcement.

“[Virginia] should be sitting on this camera with you right now celebrating this but also demanding more justice,” he said.

“I think it’s a mixed bag of emotions over the last 24 hours but we are just hell bent to not let her voice die.”

Virginia Giuffre in 2019. File pic: AP
Image:
Virginia Giuffre in 2019. File pic: AP

Mr Roberts added he would welcome a meeting with the King and “love the opportunity to tell my sister’s story to the palace”.

“If the King is saying he stands with survivors out there and if the King is saying he stands with survivors and their victims, then meet with us, have a conversation with us,” he said.

“We’re real people with real stories that can affect real change and I think my sister did something unprecedented that says advocacy can affect change, advocacy can lead to justice.”

Andrew no longer Duke of York

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been removed from the official roll of the peerage, representing a significant step in the formal revocation of his titles.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that his name was struck from the roll after the King decided to strip his brother of the Prince and Duke of York titles and the HRH style, effectively ending his public role.

Andrew has been stripped from his titles. Pic: PA
Image:
Andrew has been stripped from his titles. Pic: PA

Dukes, including the Duke of York, are recorded on the roll of the peerage, which is maintained by the Crown Office under the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor, David Lammy.

As justice secretary, Mr Lammy was set to receive royal warrants from the King to remove the Duke from the roll, along with his Prince title and HRH style.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The King’s hand was forced by public opinion as he sends his brother to ‘life in exile’

Andrew to leave Royal Lodge in Windsor

In addition to losing his royal titles, Andrew has been ordered to leave Royal Lodge – a 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park where he lived for more than 20 years.

Royal Lodge
Image:
Royal Lodge

Andrew will now be moving to a property on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, around 100 miles north of London, which is privately owned by the King.

The estate is perhaps most famous as the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas holiday residence.

It remains unclear when Andrew will leave the property, though it is expected to be “as soon as practicable”.

Read more:
Key claims in Virginia Giuffre memoir
Why Charles could no longer ignore public opinion
Where will Andrew live next?

The view from the gardens of Sandringham House in Norfolk. Pic: iStock
Image:
The view from the gardens of Sandringham House in Norfolk. Pic: iStock

It is understood that the King made the decision due to his brother’s significant lapses in judgement, and had the backing of the royal family, including the Prince of Wales.

Sarah Ferguson, who previously lived with her former husband Andrew at Royal Lodge, will not be provided accommodation by the King and will need to find a new residence.

Andrew’s downfall

The latest developments in the long-running controversy come amid renewed scrutiny of the King’s brother, after he tried earlier this month to address Ms Giuffre’s allegations by relinquishing his dukedom and other honours ahead of the release of her posthumous memoir.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Prince Andrew thought ‘sex with me was his birthright’

Instead of easing scrutiny, Andrew faced mounting criticism over his property, and some MPs pushed for the issue to be debated in parliament.

He has also been the subject of damaging media reports, including allegations that he attempted to enlist the Metropolitan Police to collect information for a smear campaign against Ms Giuffre.

The King’s decision to strip his brother of his titles is likely to be seen by commentators as an effort by the royal family to distance itself from Andrew.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

Continue Reading

UK

Removal of Andrew’s titles is seismic – but there is another major shift in palace’s statement

Published

on

By

Removal of Andrew's titles is seismic - but there is another major shift in palace's statement

The public and politicians had spoken, and the King, it seems, had no choice.

As head of the institution, family bonds took second place; the survival of the monarchy and its reputation in the end was paramount.

But while the removal of the titles, styles and honours, from the man now just known as Andrew, is seismic, there are other significant shifts in this bombshell pronouncement from the palace.

Follow latest news and reaction: Andrew no longer Duke of York

The decision to publicly state that “Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse” is huge.

In all the years that the allegations have rumbled on against Andrew – accusations he denies – I have never publicly heard the royal family come out in support of the victims around this story.

Andrew himself, during his Newsnight interview, never offered any kind of sympathy or apology to Jeffrey Epstein’s wider victims.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Can Andrew still become King?

With both Queen Camilla and the Duchess of Edinburgh working to support victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence, the family’s silence has always felt difficult to fully understand.

Read more:
Why King could no longer ignore public opinion
Everything we know as Andrew loses titles

I have no doubt that pressure from other members of the family will have meant now was the right time for the King to make their position clear.

We also understand this latest action was taken to acknowledge serious lapses in judgement from Andrew.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Andrew loses titles: What you need to know in two minutes

Again, the palace has never gone this far. In the past, they have simply tried to distance themselves from the constant drip of revelations.

While this is a King mindful of the future of the monarchy, he has also worked hard to build a reputation as an empathic and socially engaged man.

The noise around Andrew was deafening, he has listened, and as a result, his actions are monumental.

Continue Reading

UK

Andrew pays the ultimate price after years of public disdain

Published

on

By

Andrew pays the ultimate price after years of public disdain

Andrew always denied the allegations – but the repeated accusations would not go away.

And his associations risked real reputational damage to the Royal Family.

His friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, his dealings with an alleged Chinese spy, and then the posthumous publication of his accuser, Virginia Giuffre’s memoir.

Her family said she brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.

The piling pressure was starting to overshadow the work of Andrew’s wider family. And with the Prince of Wales soon heading to Brazil for his Earthshot award, enough was enough.

We understand the Royal Family, including Prince William backed the King’s leadership on this matter.

The King made the decisions, his family supported them.

More on Jeffrey Epstein

Both Andrew, and former secretary of state Peter Mandelson's public lives have been dismantled by their relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Pic: PA
Image:
Both Andrew, and former secretary of state Peter Mandelson’s public lives have been dismantled by their relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Pic: PA

Andrew will leave Royal Lodge, his large home on the Windsor estate. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who also lived there, will “make her own arrangements”.

It was their family home for many years. Both daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who grew up there, will keep their titles.

Andrew's ex-wife has continued to live at the Royal Lodge estate but will now be left to make her own housing arrangements. Pic: PA
Image:
Andrew’s ex-wife has continued to live at the Royal Lodge estate but will now be left to make her own housing arrangements. Pic: PA

As for Andrew, he will soon move to Sandringham – the King’s private Norfolk estate – where the family traditionally gathers for Christmas; and he will be funded privately by the King.

Read more:
Andrew allegations should be examined in ‘fullest ways’

This is all a formal process carried out in consultation with official authorities, but the government supports the decision taken.

This will not have been easy for the King, but he knew he could not ignore public opinion. The criticism and anger directed at Andrew was never going to stop – and only he had the power to take the ultimate action against his own brother.

For years, Andrew enjoyed the perks and privileges of his powerful position, but his birthright could not withstand withering public disdain.

And now he’s paid the ultimate price.

Continue Reading

Trending