John Ashby, a 32-year-old man of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to rape, religiously aggravated assault, intentional strangulation and robbery after changing his plea during trial at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday.
The court heard how Ashby followed a Sikh woman from a bus stop in Walsall last October, picked up a two-foot stick from the ground and entered her home while she was inside. When she heard a noise and tried to lock herself in the bathroom, he barged his way in, turned off the light and told her he was “here to have fun”.
During the attack, Ashby subjected the woman to a tirade of anti-Muslim abuse, wrongly believing her to be of that faith. He called her a “fucking Muslim bitch” and told her she was “dirty” and that he was her “master”. The victim, who is in her 20s, repeatedly told him she was a Sikh, not a Muslim.
Ashby strangled the victim before raping her and then fled the property after being “spooked by a noise outside”, taking her jewellery and mobile phone. Police arrested him three days later at an identity parade in the Perry Barr area of Birmingham.
During police interview, when shown a photograph of the victim, Ashby asked why she was not wearing a hijab. When booked into custody, he stated: “You never see any Englishmen in Perry Barr anymore”.
The guilty plea came after Ashby was sworn at by a member of the public in the dock, who told him to “sort your shit out”. He asked to speak to his barrister about an hour later and changed his pleas. The judge described the outburst as an “ugly incident”.
Justice Pepperall warned Ashby that he was considering a life sentence, stating that anyone who commits such offences is “a very dangerous individual”. The prosecution said there could be “no doubt” of his guilt, citing DNA and fingerprint evidence from the scene.
Body-worn police footage played to the jury showed the victim describing how Ashby insulted her during the attack. She told officers: “He switched off the light. He said: ‘I just want fun with you.’ He said: ‘You are a fucking Muslim bitch’. I said: ‘I am not a Muslim, I am a Sikh’.”
The attack provoked fear among Sikh women in the Midlands, with many saying they had “changed everything” about their daily routines. Sikh Women’s Aid, which is supporting the victim, welcomed the guilty plea.
What charges did John Ashby plead guilty to?
John Ashby pleaded guilty to rape, religiously aggravated assault, intentional strangulation and robbery.
How did the victim respond when Ashby called her a Muslim during the attack?
The victim repeatedly told Ashby she was not a Muslim but a Sikh, saying: “I am not a Muslim, I am a Sikh”.
Where was John Ashby arrested after the attack?
John Ashby was arrested three days after the attack at an identity parade in the Perry Barr area of Birmingham.
