A woman raped by grooming gangs fears the case of Eleanor Williams has "caused a lot of harm" for genuine survivors of abuse.

Sammy Woodhouse, who was abused in Rotherham from the age of 14, said it had set progress back "a long way".

Williams, of Barrow, Cumbria, was given an eight-and-a-half year sentence on Tuesday after lying about being raped and trafficked for sex.

The 22-year-old was convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Her Facebook post in May 2020 showing injuries she said had been inflicted by groomers was shared more than 100,000 times and sparked protests in her home town.

A trial at Preston Crown Court heard she inflicted the wounds herself using a hammer she had bought from Tesco.

Three men Williams falsely accused of rape over a three-year period tried to take their own lives.

Ms Woodhouse, who is a campaigner for survivors of abuse, told BBC Breakfast: "I've spent every day for 10 years reliving my trauma to try to raise awareness and encourage people to come forward and then you get someone like Ellie come along with all these lies.

"It feels like it does take us back quite a long way. It's been really challenging. She's caused a lot of harm.

"There are so many of us that come forward to tell the truth. We just want to get justice and support in some way.

"When Ellie came forward everybody got behind her. To find out she wasn't being honest and all the harm it's caused - not just to the three people that she falsely accused but to us as a cause...

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