A teenager who reported being brutally gang-raped by an organized group finds herself in trouble with the law, casting doubt on the authorities’ response to such allegations.
A severely beaten teenage girl, who reported being gang-raped by an “Asian sex gang,” found herself charged with seven counts of “perverting justice.” The 19-year-old Ellie Williams went to the Cumbria Police station, barely recognizable with her bruises and cuts, accusing an organized group of Pakistani men of subjecting her to years of a brutal assault, drugging, and sex trafficking in northern England, the DailyMail reports.
Ellie provided the police with names, addresses, and harrowing details of the abuse she and other girls had allegedly suffered at the hands of the so-called “Asian” gang. However, after a year-long investigation, Cumbria Police arrested no one from the accused group.
Instead, Detective Chief Superintendent Dean Holden concluded that there was not enough evidence to support the existence of “an organized gang of Asian men” exploiting and grooming young girls in Barrow-in-Furness.
Holden stated, “What I would say is, when the question is asked, ‘Is there an organised gang of Asian men in Barrow conducting abuse or other exploitation against individuals?’ Our investigation has shown that has not been corroborated or otherwise evidenced.”
Ironically, the same department found enough evidence to charge Ellie criminally, even arresting her weeks later for “breach of her bail conditions” after she posted pictures of her injuries on social media, in response to what she perceives as a miscarriage of justice.
She asserted, “I am not the only girl in (the area) who has gone through this or is going through this. I know plenty of girls involved – including girls from away. This is local men and men from away. These are mostly Pakistani men and some are business owners. I wish I could name all of those involved, but due to current ongoing investigations I’m not allowed.”
Ellie revealed graphic images of the alleged abuse on social media, including photos of her battered face and body, and gashes on her breast and fingers. She claims that the gang tried to hack off her finger and mutilate her breasts to force her compliance.
In her social media post, Ellie wrote:
“They have given me drugs to the point I was nearly addicted to heroin. They have stripped me naked, beaten me and dumped me in the middle of nowhere with nothing…no money, phone, ID, clothes, shoes, nothing. They did this once in winter (when) I got found with bad hypothermia. They have broken my ribs and many bones in my face. They have split my ear, cut my throat, attempted to cut my boobs and nipples off.”
She also claims to have suffered a “bleed on the brain” from a head injury sustained during one of the beatings, and a loss of vision from being hit in the eye socket. Ellie continues to receive death threats from the gang members, and her sister has shared screenshots of text messages allegedly showing communication between Ellie and the suspects.
Despite the criminal charges against her, Ellie remains determined to speak out against her alleged abusers. Though she cannot provide names due to the ongoing investigation, she is committed to fighting for other girls still being trafficked.
“These are evil yet clever men. They know how to manipulate, convince and threaten girls into staying. When they can’t, they use extreme violence,” Ellie said.
Ellie Williams is grateful to be alive, not having ended up pregnant or committing suicide. She hopes her story will shed light on the sex trafficking industry that exploits young girls worldwide. However, her case may deter other victims of grooming gangs from coming forward, fearing they too will face criminal charges and the wrath of their abusers.
Sources: Taphaps, Daily Mail
