The post saw families and communities torn apart
Describing it as 'the hardest post I have ever written', the 1,300 word statement outlined horrific descriptions of torture, rape and exploitation at the hands of an 'Asian grooming gang', allegedly operating in Barrow. The post, accompanied with pictures of Williams' battered body and face, was shared around the world.
The day before Williams shared her viral Facebook post, her sister Lucy posted an appeal on Facebook, asking for information about Williams' whereabouts after she had gone missing again. The following day, Ellie wrote a post assuring readers she was 'safe now' - but the story she told suggested otherwise.
On May 23, three days after Williams' Facebook post, a rally in support of her took place at which her father accused the police of brushing grooming gangs under the rug. As public support for Williams grew, a 'Justice For Ellie' Facebook group attracted more than 100,000 members. A purple elephant logo, designed to reflect a necklace Williams wore at school, became the campaign's mascot, and was displayed on car bumpers and shop windows around the town.
In the eye of the storm was Mohammed Ramzan, a local businessman who ran restaurants and an ice-cream van in the town. Williams claimed the entrepreneur - known as Mo Rammy in the local community - had groomed her from the age of 12 and trafficked her to sex parties in Barrow, Blackpool, Preston and across the North of England.
Simon Fell, MP for Barrow-in-Furness, said: "I was relatively new to the job when the first email pinged in about Ellie Williams and the now infamous post that she'd put on Facebook. We were locked down. The streets were quiet. And many people were at home, keeping in touch with the world through social media. The message from a constituent was to the point: 'What are you going to do about it?'. Soon, there were a deluge of messages.
But as the investigation continued, police became clearer on one point. Not only were Williams' claims false, she had fabricated swathes of emotive evidence - and caused the injuries to herself. In June 2020, Williams, of Teasdale Road, was charged with eight counts of doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice.
The evidence against Williams, by now aged 22, was overwhelming. Text messages, purporting to be from Williams' abusers could be proved to be false. One man, saved in Williams' phone as 'Shaggy Wood', an alleged Asian grooming gang member, was a ginger-haired man from Essex, who believed he was talking to a girl from Portsmouth who planned to visit him.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ellie Goulding denies cheating on Ed SheeranEllie Goulding denies cheating on Ed Sheeran with Niall Horan
Read more »
I watched as my friends deleted me from social media because of a wicked lieThe cruel lies of Ellie Williams saw well-known Barrow businessman Mohammed Ramzan accused of being the leader of a merciless gang of human traffickers
Read more »
Traitors star Meryl Williams hopes to challenge misconceptions around dwarfismThe Traitors winner Meryl Williams appeared on Good Morning Britain on Friday where she said she wanted to help challenge the misconceptions regarding dwarfism by joining the show
Read more »
The Traitors' Meryl Williams opens up about abuse she receives on social mediaThe Traitors winner Meryl Williams opens up about daily abuse she receives on social media
Read more »
Allison Williams Talks M3ganAllison Williams on becoming a horror queen and playing opposite a creepy doll
Read more »