Ellie Wiliams - why did she lie? New Sky News podcast Unreliable Witness investigates

Unreliable Witness, a new narrative podcast from Sky News’ award-winning StoryCast, investigates the high-profile case of Eleanor (Ellie) Williams, the young woman jailed for lying about sexual assault and grooming.  

Ellie was sentenced last year to eight-and-a-half years for perverting the course of justice after claiming she’d been trafficked by an Asian gang. However, the police found holes in her story and said she had fabricated text messages and that her injuries were self-inflicted. 

With access to her family, police investigators and those most impacted by her allegations, we ask: why did Ellie Williams, an otherwise normal young woman, create such an elaborate lie? And what happened AFTER the trial – once all the media attention died down and new allegations began to emerge? 

With new and exclusive access, Sky News speaks to Ellie’s mum and sister, and victims of her allegations, to get a better understanding of what really happened - raising fresh questions relating to the case. 

Sky News Home Affairs Editor Jason Farrell and producer Liz Lane, who reported on the case at the time, return to Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria to investigate what could have led Ellie to make these claims and if, underneath it all, there is a secret buried amongst the lies. 

Jason Farrell, Sky News Home Affairs Editor said: “This is one of the most extraordinary cases Liz Lane and I have ever worked on. This tale of secrets and lies twists and turns with each new perspective. We get out our magnifying glass and try to go beyond the question put to the jury which was, did she lie? We ask why did she lie?” 

At the height of lockdown in 2020, a 19-year-old Ellie Williams claimed on social media that she had been raped and exploited by an Asian grooming gang in the North of England.

Her posts went viral and social media rumours led to attacks on Asian men and businesses in her hometown of Barrow-in-Furness. When Ellie is arrested for perverting the course of justice, there are protest rallies and claims of a cover-up. At the trial the prosecution says she has lied, faked text messages and caused a catalogue of injuries to herself.

Three of the men she falsely accused have said they tried to take their own lives because of her accusations. 

Unreliable Witness is the season six offering from StoryCast, Sky News’ multi award-winning podcast documentary strand. Sky News StoryCast investigates the real people behind the big news stories whose lives have been profoundly changed by seismic events. Previous seasons include Patient 11 – a joint investigation with the Independent into wide scale sexual abuse allegations within mental health trusts, and What happened to Annie Börjesson? An investigation inside the mystery ’suicide’ of a talented linguist and musician who was discovered face down on Prestwick Beach. 

Sky News’ Unreliable Witness launches on Monday 25th March, with the final instalment released on Tuesday 2nd April on the

StoryCast feed. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the trailer here

Credits 

Presenters: Jason Farrell (Home Editor, Sky News) and Liz Lane (Specialist Producer, Sky News)   

Podcast Series Producer: Anne-Marie Bullock  

Executive Producer: Louise Cotton  

Sound Design: Matt Wareham  

Additional Journalism: Sarah O’Connell  

Sky Podcasts Editor: Paul Stanworth 

About Jason Farrell and Liz Lane

Jason Farrell is Home Editor for Sky News and was this year shortlisted for Royal Television Society as Specialist Journalist of the Year. Previously Political Correspondent, Crime Reporter and Head of Investigations, his news reports have triggered national enquiries and debates in parliament.   

Liz Lane is a journalist with 20 years’ experience across TV and radio who has produced and directed a dozen TV documentaries for Sky from working on the frontline with troops fighting Islamic State to investigating the fatal shooting of a US agent on a covert mission to Mexico.   

Together their investigations include into the pregnancy test drug Primodos, which took on one of the world’s largest drug manufacturers and UK government, and prompted an inquiry, which would eventually lead to an apology from the health secretary, criticism of the pharmaceutical industry and regulators, and acknowledgement of a fifty year wrong.  More recently their work exposing the treatment of women in Greater Manchester Police custody has led to the commissioning of a review by former Victim’s Commissioner, Vera Baird, which will report back this year. They have worked together since 2016.   

Unreliable witness synopsis

At the height of lockdown, 19-year-old Ellie Williams claims on social media she’s been raped and exploited by an Asian grooming gang across the North of England. Photos of her horrific injuries add to the outrage and the post goes viral – shared more than 100 thousand times. Social media rumours lead to attacks on Asian men and businesses in her hometown of Barrow-in-Furness. But when she’s arrested for perverting the course of justice, things really explode and there are protest rallies and claims of a cover-up. At the trial the prosecution claims she’d lied, faked text messages and even caused the catalogue of injuries to herself. 

In season six of StoryCast, Sky News’ Jason Farrell and Liz Lane, who reported on the case at the time, return to Barrow to investigate what could have led her to make these claims and if, underneath it all, there is some other secret buried amongst the lies. With access to her family, police investigators and those most impacted by her allegations, we ask: why did Ellie Williams, an otherwise normal young woman, create such an elaborate lie? And what happened AFTER the trial – once all the media attention died down and new allegations began to emerge?

Episode Guide

Unreliable Witness | 1. Who is Ellie Williams?  

Ellie’s family and boss share their worries about her leading up to the infamous Facebook post. Unexplained injuries. Becoming withdrawn. Incessant messages. Harassment on the street. Then she starting to go missing regularly. When she suddenly moves out of the family home, her family feel they’re losing contact. Eventually she turns up so badly injured she says she can’t take it anymore and goes public with claims on social media that go viral and shock the nation. 

Unreliable Witness | 2. Recipe for a Witch Hunt  

The fuse has been lit...and with limited information from police or in the news, social media speculation starts fingers pointing. Barrow is about to hit boiling point. Asian businesses are attacked.  Individuals are targeted. Meanwhile local businessman Mohammed Ramzan is arrested – suspected of being a central figure in the grooming gang. But a senior detective coming onto the case starts to find holes in the account police have been told. 

Unreliable Witness | 3. I’m not a Psychopath  

After Covid delays, the trial is finally held and Ellie Williams is in the dock. Liz and Jason were among the reporters at court when the extent of her claims were revealed for the first time, shocking the media and public alike. She’s accused of perverting the course of justice against 5 men, including 4 who are white – of lying to police and falsifying evidence to back up her claims, including causing the horrific injuries to herself. Liz and Jason share some of the shocking twists and revelations of the 11-week trial and what Ellie has to say in her defence. 

Unreliable Witness | 4. The Witness Who Went Home  

Ellie has been sentenced to 8 and a half years in prison, but questions have been raised about what evidence was presented and left out in court. One potential witness who wasn’t called on says she could have supported parts of Ellie’s story. Liz and Jason ask why Williams wasn’t prosecuted in relation to the other men she had accused. 

Unreliable Witness | 5. I’m Coming for You  

It’s revealed Mohammed Ramzan has been facing allegations other than from Ellie Williams. Liz and Jason meet ‘Sarah’ - who says she was groomed as a child in Hull – and accuses Mo of being involved in the gang responsible. He claims something more sinister is at play. But his anger at the situation sees him back in court – in the dock. 

Unreliable Witness | 6. Eleanor Williams – Inside  

Police material is released, taking us to the moments they discover her battered at her flat and the night before her infamous post. They also reveal her reaction when accused of lying. Meanwhile Liz and Jason are given a psychiatric report charting medical records and interviews which reveal more on Ellie’s background and state of mind. And, finally, Liz hears from the young woman at the centre of it all - directly from prison.