Woman Jailed for Faking Brutal Sex Abuse Claims in Walney
Faked attack sparked huge police hunt
Eleanor Williams, 22, from Walney, has been locked up for fiddling serious allegations. She was sentenced today (14 March) for nine counts of perverting the course of justice after falsely accusing men of rape and trafficking over three years.
The most explosive claim came on 19 May 2020, when Williams said she’d been kidnapped in a silver Audi, taken to a Barrow address, and raped by several Asian men – one allegedly slashing her with a knife. Her shocking Facebook photos of injuries sparked widespread protests against police in Barrow and beyond.
The truth exposed: injuries self-inflicted
But detectives found no proof of Williams’ story. The Barrow address was empty for two years, and neighbours never saw anyone matching her description. CCTV showed no sign of her or the Audi on the day in question.
In fact, a bloodied claw hammer found nearby had been bought by Williams herself days earlier at Tesco, footage confirmed. She was carrying her own bank card in a rucksack when found injured in a field, having been reported missing by her family.
Under intense questioning, Williams repeatedly refused to explain inconsistencies, replying “no comment” to 74 challenges during police interviews.
Multiple lies uncovered across several allegations
- Fabricated Snapchat account linked to one accused man, shown by police to be created from Williams’ home.
- Claims of forced trips to Blackpool to have sex with men disproved by hotel and shop CCTV showing her peaceful stay.
- Alleged trafficking to Amsterdam busted when her sister and boyfriend confirmed they travelled together the whole time, sightseeing and even walking the Red Light District.
- Admission of lying about being trafficked to Ibiza after police warned they could check flight records.
Eight-and-a-half years behind bars
Williams’s lies dragged police into costly, wide-ranging investigations targeting human trafficking and child sexual offences, which led to wrongful arrests. Her conviction in January 2023 for eight counts of perverting the course of justice, alongside one earlier admission, culminated in today’s prison sentence of eight-and-a-half years.
Barrow police welcomed the verdict, praising the work that uncovered the elaborate web of deceit.
