Unreliable Witness | Storycast

4.3 (646)
TRUE CRIME

At the height of lockdown, 19-year-old Ellie Williams claims on social media she’s been trafficked 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 6 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 create such an elaborate lie? And what happened AFTER the trial – once all the media attention died down and other allegations began to emerge? For more investigative stories from the award-winning Sky News StoryCast strand, listen to our past seasons. SEASON 5: Patient 11 (2024) Following the death of her brother, young mother Alexis Quinn seeks temporary respite in NHS psychiatric care, never imagining that three days, would turn into more than three year ordeal that would ultimately expose a national scandal. SEASON 4: StoryCast 21 (2021) Through extraordinary personal stories, Sky News revisits 21 of the world’s biggest news events this century. SEASON 3: Polonium and The Piano Player (2020) Two Russian agents release a miniature nuclear weapon in a 5-star London hotel. But former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko is not the only victim. SEASON 2: What happened to Annie? (2019) In 2005, the body of 30-year-old Swedish woman, Annie Börjesson, was found on Prestwick beach in Scotland. Could one of the world’s most secretive security agencies be behind her death? SEASON 1: The Hunt for the Brinks-Mat Gold (2018) In 1983, an armed gang stole £26m in gold bars from a high-security depot near Heathrow Airport. Dubbed the crime of the century, the heist changed the face of Britain’s criminal landscape and the life of one undercover Scotland Yard detective.

See All (53)

4.3

out of 5

646 Ratings

Patient 11

23 Jun

nhh5

Patient 11. The pedant in me wishes the male narrator would stop saying ‘vica versa’. Other than that, devastating subject matter and well put together
Alexis ….

5 Apr

CherieA*

As a true crime fanatic, there isn’t much out there in the world of podcasts that I haven’t listened to. Alexis’ story is truly harrowing, and absolutely chilled me to the bone. From episode 1 when she spoke about her sensory specialities I immediately said aloud “oh she has autism” As an 80s baby myself who was undiagnosed until later life, I felt every moment of her distress, frustration and trauma and pain. Grief can take us to places in our mind we never knew existed. Alexis if you are reading this “You are so brave!” I connected to this lady on so many levels throughout hearing her voice in this podcast. I want to say that I’m so glad a light has been shone on the dysfunctional mental health system we have. But overall, I just want to say that I’m so sorry you’ve been failed, multiple times by all the people who were supposed to protect, love and support you. I write this with tears streaming down my face. The final episode, with Alexis in Africa made my heart sing. Africa is my happy place too! I hope you found peace and some solice in the sunshine with your daughter and I hope that wherever you may be now … you are living your best life xx
Ellie Williams

30 Mar

Kris CG

Fascinating podcast, the amount of airtime given to Mo Rammy, a clearly aggressive, violent, mysoginistic abuser who went to prison for pouring petrol over his wife and setting her on fire is astounding. Something very dark appears to be happening in Barrow, covered up with the help of the police. I believe Ellie has suffered some very traumatic abuse.
Fascinating…but more questions than answers

29 Mar

MissKerryF

This is an excellent podcast that I recommend everyone listen to. There is clearly so much more to this story and I hope it all comes out in the open one day, and Ellie’s side can be heard. The point in the final episode about the British justice system making things very ‘black and white’ and that you are a victim or a villain, but can never be both, struck me. I believe this case is far more nuanced than that. Thank you for bringing it to my attention and well done to all involved.

At the height of lockdown, 19-year-old Ellie Williams claims on social media she’s been trafficked 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 6 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 create such an elaborate lie? And what happened AFTER the trial – once all the media attention died down and other allegations began to emerge? For more investigative stories from the award-winning Sky News StoryCast strand, listen to our past seasons. SEASON 5: Patient 11 (2024) Following the death of her brother, young mother Alexis Quinn seeks temporary respite in NHS psychiatric care, never imagining that three days, would turn into more than three year ordeal that would ultimately expose a national scandal. SEASON 4: StoryCast 21 (2021) Through extraordinary personal stories, Sky News revisits 21 of the world’s biggest news events this century. SEASON 3: Polonium and The Piano Player (2020) Two Russian agents release a miniature nuclear weapon in a 5-star London hotel. But former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko is not the only victim. SEASON 2: What happened to Annie? (2019) In 2005, the body of 30-year-old Swedish woman, Annie Börjesson, was found on Prestwick beach in Scotland. Could one of the world’s most secretive security agencies be behind her death? SEASON 1: The Hunt for the Brinks-Mat Gold (2018) In 1983, an armed gang stole £26m in gold bars from a high-security depot near Heathrow Airport. Dubbed the crime of the century, the heist changed the face of Britain’s criminal landscape and the life of one undercover Scotland Yard detective.