Man pleads guilty to religiously aggravated rape of Sikh woman in Walsall

John Ashby, 32, has pleaded guilty to the religiously aggravated rape and assault of a Sikh woman in Walsall.

The attack occurred in October 2025 after Ashby followed the victim off a bus and entered her home armed with a stick.

Ashby, who has no fixed address, initially denied the charges but admitted guilt during his trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

The victim was subjected to a violent assault in her bathroom, during which Ashby used religiously aggravated verbal abuse, wrongly believing her to be Muslim.

He called her a "bloody Muslim bitch" despite her identifying as Sikh.

The attack ended when Ashby was startled by a noise outside and fled, taking the victim's jewellery and mobile phone.

The victim was left hysterical and was comforted by police officers after the incident.

Prosecutors said Ashby claimed to be a "British master" during the attack.

Body-worn police footage showing the victim's distress and account of the assault was played to the jury.

The victim identified Ashby at an identity parade days after the attack.

During the trial, proceedings were briefly disrupted when a member of the public confronted Ashby in court, shouting verbal abuse and telling him to "sort your shit out." The court heard that Ashby followed the woman from a bus and entered her home without her knowledge.

When she heard a noise, she tried to lock herself in the bathroom, but Ashby forced his way in.

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