Stepfather of grooming gang fantasist Eleanor Williams dies after being attacked in family home

Daily Mail​

a day ago

The stepfather of grooming gang fantasist Eleanor Williams has died nearly three weeks after he was allegedly attacked inside the family home — with police now expected to launch a murder investigation.
Ronnie Johnston, 57, died 20 days after suffering catastrophic injuries in an alleged assault that led to the arrest of a 54-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man.
The incident took place at the end-terrace house on Walney Island, Barrow-in-Furness — the childhood home of Williams, 24, whose lies about being trafficked by an Asian grooming gang tore the Cumbrian town apart.
A spokesman for Cumbria Police said: 'A police investigation is on-going after a man who suffered life-threatening injuries following an incident in Barrow, has died.
'On 12 July 2025, emergency services attended an address in Teasdale Road in Barrow following a report of two people having suffered injuries inside the address.
'A 57-year-old man was taken to hospital in a critical condition but died overnight on Tuesday (29 July) into Wednesday (30 July).
'A 19-year-old who suffered a broken arm was arrested on the evening of 12 July 2025 on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. He was subsequently released on police bail and remains on police bail whilst investigations into the incident remain on-going.
'A 54-year-old woman arrested at the same address on the same evening also remains on police bail.'
Painter and decorator Mr Johnston was discovered with life-threatening injuries at the end-terrace property in Teasdale Road shortly before midnight on Saturday July 12.
He is the husband of Williams' mother Allison Williams, who stood by her daughter as she falsely claimed she was trafficked and beaten by an Asian gang in Cumbria.
She alleged she had been brutally raped and trafficked across the north of England and overseas in a string of Facebook posts in May 2020, shared more than 100,000 times.
Her purported ordeal sparked protests and months of unrest in her home town, and prompted thousands to donate cash.
Williams was later convicted of perverting the course of justice when her dramatic accounts were exposed as being completely fantastical.
A trial at Preston Crown Court heard Williams inflicted the wounds herself using a hammer and she was jailed for eight-and-a-half years in March 2023.
Three men falsely accused over a three-year period were driven to the brink of suicide after being targeted.
One of them - Jordan Trengove - spent more than 70 days in prison, sharing a cell with a convicted sex offender after he was charged as a result of Williams' bogus claims.
Ms Williams, 54, a former Labour councillor, was later accused of refusing to return £22,000 donated by well-wishers.
She later said she donated the funds to two homeless charities.
Williams was released from prison in January under the Government's early release scheme designed to free up space in prisons.
The serial liar was revealed by Daily Mail to be making a 'new life for herself' outside of Barrow.
A source said: 'She was a model prisoner and she was no threat to society at all.
'She was working during her time in jail as a receptionist for an electrical equipment company and proved to the authorities that she was suitable to be released.
'She's currently living outside Barrow and doesn't know whether she'll be able to return.
'It's an isolated town where everyone is involved in everyone else's business which would make life impossible for her at the moment.'
Cumbria Police added: 'Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, referring to incident 355 of July 12.
'Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.'