John Ashby Admits Religiously Aggravated Rape of Sikh Woman in Walsall, October 2025
John Ashby, 32, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to the religiously aggravated rape of a Sikh woman in her Walsall home. The attack took place in October 2025. Ashby’s admission at Birmingham Crown Court followed an initial denial of the charges.
The trial began on Monday, and proceedings were briefly interrupted on Tuesday when a member of the public verbally abused Ashby in the dock. This outburst occurred after Ashby began mumbling during the prosecution’s evidence detailing the assault, which involved him striking the victim, a stranger, with a stick.
Ashby had followed the woman from a bus to her property, entering armed with a stick he had collected from the ground. Upon hearing a noise, the woman attempted to lock herself in her bathroom, but Ashby forced his way in. Prosecutor Phil Bradley KC informed the jury that Ashby turned off the light, stating he was "here to have fun" before raping her.
During the ordeal, Ashby subjected his victim to anti-Muslim abuse, despite her being Sikh, wrongly believing her to be Muslim. He reportedly demanded she remove her clothes, struck her with the stick, and placed his hands around her neck. He then forced her into the bathtub, pouring hot water over her and commanding her to say "hallelujah." Ashby also demanded she repeat his "mantra that he was the 'master'."
The assault concluded when Ashby, "evidently spooked by a noise outside," fled the scene, taking the victim’s jewellery and mobile phone. Police arrived minutes after the woman raised the alarm. Ashby was arrested two days later in Perry Barr, Birmingham, and was subsequently identified by the victim in an identity parade.
