January 6, 2023
Jonathan Sandiford KC has secured the conviction of a woman for eight counts of perverting the course of justice.
Eleanor Williams, 22, of Barrow-in-Furness, was found guilty at Preston Crown Court of making false allegations of sexual abuse, violence and rape against men.
These included claims that local business owner Mohammad Ramzan had groomed her since the age of 12.
The photos of her injuries went viral on social media with her Facebook post being shared more than 100,000 times resulting in demonstrations in her home town with some attended by Far Right organisations.
However the jury heard evidence that she inflicted the wounds on herself with a claw hammer and a Snapchat account of an alleged abuser had been created using the Wi-Fi at her mother’s address.
CCTV, a handwriting expert, a pathologist, eyewitness accounts, mobile phone positioning data, medical reports and forensic evidence were all used in the complex and unusual case.
The jury delivered unanimous guilty verdicts after a 11 week trial.
Sentencing will take place on 14 March.
Jonathan Sandiford KC is a CPS Grade 4 prosecutor with over 25 years’ experience, in complex and sensitive cases including race hate cases and internet-based offending.
He was instructed by CPS North West Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Unit.
News stories:
[CPS]
[BBC News]
[Sky News]