Rape gang survivor: 'I was arrested for reporting my abuse'

A rape gang survivor has revealed she has written to Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips but has not heard back for “months”.

Speaking to GB News, Ellie Reynolds said: “I was subjected in Cumbria, Barrow-in-Furness to a multiple men rape gang. I was kidnapped off the streets in broad daylight. I was drugged, I was held hostage in flats and takeaways, and there were multiple gang rapes that took place over the space of five years.

“It was a living nightmare, it really was, and I'm not quite sure how I got out of it, let alone I'm doing so well.

“There were childcare workers involved that had inklings that stuff was going on, and they were writing down that I was a category two CSE victim. They were going to the flats and checking them out. And I also went to the police. I tried to go to the police on the 3rd March, 2018 and found myself arrested on the 4th March, 2018.

“That case went on for three years in which I was acquitted. So I feel like I tried to reach out to authorities and I was silenced.

“From my point of view, I think that if the authorities would have listened to more people, it could potentially have been stopped sooner. It took multiple victims for anybody to kind of take any sort of notice, and still, a lot of victims that have been unheard.

“I was contacted by the authorities who have said that now there's been a successful conviction they are interested in reopening my case. I feel like it shouldn't have been that long. This is seven years down the line now, but the authorities are saying that they're going to reopen it.

“I feel like it put me more at risk going to the authorities and for the abusers to then find out that I'd reported it and I had no level of protection from authorities. I felt nothing but shame and like I wasn't believed. So I really don't have any faith whatsoever in any kind of authority.

“After seeing a list of many people that have denied it in not only local areas, but across the country, I wish that I did have a little bit of faith because I think when it came out that there were five recommendations, we kind of had a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

“I feel like now it was more a torch full of lies. They're still not really taking any interest and it's soul destroying, because there's still a lot more potential people and victims out there.

“I'd like to think that [justice] was going to happen, but I'm not really confident.

“I think that [being called racist] plays a huge factor, especially given what's going on in my own area. I feel like there's a lot of stuff as well that would be concerning if it came to the surface. So I do feel like racial aggravation plays a big part in it.

“When it boils down to it, it's not about politics, it's not about race. It's about children out here in our country that are being abused. And unfortunately, that is just not the main focus for politicians and authorities

“I'd say it was a fair assumption with some of the threats that I received from my abusers and some of the names that I was called.

“I think with my personal experiences, it was definitely a power thing. I don't believe for one second that my abusers valued or respected young white girls.

“At the time I was so young and I was so weak, and I was just mentally and physically drained. I really did put my all into having some sort of hope that the police were going to help me.

“With a case running for three years, when you're accused of something that you haven't done, I don't know how I managed to get by on a day-to-day basis. I changed a lot about myself. I don't even look like I used to anymore when I was going through my abuse.

“I was more shocked and let down because I feel like people are always raised to have respect for authorities, treat them with respect. I was certainly raised like that, and I can certainly say that I will not be raising my children like that.

“I feel like we took multiple chances to the police for them to reinvestigate a lot sooner than seven years later and I find it very hard to even believe now that they're interested in reopening my case, given what I was put through by not only my abusers, but them too.

“It really did impact my mental health. I really find it quite trying to be expected to have some sort of respect for them. I really don't.

“An email was sent to Jess Phillips, who did arrange to meet with me, but this was a couple of months ago and I've heard nothing since.

“My message would be, I really feel like people need to start taking the victims more seriously because we've lived a life of hell. And the more that we're not taken seriously and mocked and not believed, the less likely other people that are going through it are going to speak out too.

“They're going to look at us and think, ‘Well, if she's not believed, why would I be?’

“It's a ripple effect of just downright negativity.

“My life now is completely not what I imagined it to be. I really struggled when I was going through what I was to think that I'd even be living today. And there were plenty of times where I didn't think I was going to make it out.

“I take every day as a blessing because I'm out of it, I'm raising awareness for the people, I'm advocating for other people, that was always my main priority.

“And I've got children now. I did everything that I never thought I'd have a chance to do.

“It makes me happy knowing that I can come and talk to people and raise the awareness for other people that are sat at home too afraid to and understandably so.

“I want to be that voice for them and I will always as long as I'm breathing, be that voice.”

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