POLICE have defended arresting victims of Eleanor Williams - as one made public his bid to sue Cumbria Constabulary.

Jordan Trengove told reporters outside Preston Crown Court he was launching legal action against Cumbria Police after he was arrested and charged with raping the 'serial liar'. 

The 22-year-old dad was caught up in Williams' story after she claimed he had raped her on three occasions in 2019.

Charged with rape, he spent nearly three months on remand.

Now he has spoken of his bid to sue the police for his treatment.

Mr Trengove said: "I'm taking legal action against the police.

"I do hold them accountable just as much as Ellie.

"They had evidence and alibis put in front of them that I did not do anything."

The court heard during the trial Mr Trengove had met Williams on a night out in Barrow, before she later disappeared and he went to a friend's house.

She later claimed he raped her, fabricating confessional messages from a fake Snapchat account to support her allegation.

Williams also claimed Mr Trengove had assaulted her twice at her Barrow Island flat.

But the court heard he was at home all night on the dates in question.

The Mail: Jordan Trengove and Eleanor Williams on a night out in Barrow. She would later falsely claim he had raped her later on in the nightJordan Trengove and Eleanor Williams on a night out in Barrow. She would later falsely claim he had raped her later on in the night (Image: CPS)

Defending the arrest, Cumbria Police's head of crime, Detective chief Superintendent Dave Stalker, said: "It's difficult to comment where there's ongoing civil litigation and potentially public complaints.

"We've engaged with those affected parties throughout the investigation, who have supported our investigation.

"We were presented with a fairly unique set of circumstances where an individual was lying about the circumstances but also providing concocted evidence to support those lies.

"Those allegations had to be investigated and when we do that we have to also consider the rights of everyone involved and make sure the appropriate safeguarding measures are in place.

"Unfortunately that may mean on occasions having to exercise arrest powers and interview people under caution in order to get to the facts.

"As a result of that detailed investigation, we were able to do that and exonerate those individuals.

"I appreciate this has had a far-reaching impact on them and the constabulary will support them in any way it can.

"But it has to be recognised that the catalyst for this was one individual coupled with a social media post."

William was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison on Tuesday.