John Ashby Jailed 14 Years Minimum for Rape, Racially Aggravated Assault in Walsall
A man who raped a Sikh woman in her home while subjecting her to a tirade of religiously aggravated abuse has been given a life sentence at Birmingham Crown Court.
During his attack in Walsall in October 2025, John Ashby beat the woman, in her 20s, with a stick while also shouting anti-Muslim abuse, wrongly believing her to be of that faith.
Sentencing Ashby, 32, Mr Justice Pepperall described him as a "deeply unpleasant racist and Islamophobe." Ashby was told he would serve a minimum term of 14 years in prison.
Details of the Attack and Arrest
The court heard Ashby, of no fixed address, followed the victim, a stranger, after she disembarked a bus. He then entered her home without her knowledge, armed with a two-foot stick. He admitted charges of rape, robbery, intentional strangulation, and religiously aggravated assault.
Mr Justice Pepperall stated that Ashby held the woman against her will, sexually and physically assaulting her for at least 24 minutes. The court heard Ashby forced the victim to remove her clothes, declaring himself a "British master," strangled her, and poured hot water over her, demanding she say "hallelujah." After the rape, Ashby instructed her to lie on the bed, reiterating he was there "to have fun" and making references to his "white British" private parts.
The attack ceased when Ashby was "evidently spooked by a noise outside," prompting him to flee with the victim's jewellery and mobile phone. He was arrested two days later in Perry Barr, Birmingham, where he made further racist remarks to police about the demographic makeup of the area and the victim's attire.
Victim's Statement and Offender's History
In a personal statement read to the court, the victim expressed the profound impact of the assault: "What happened to me has changed every part of my life... I feel like that version of myself has been stripped away by a complete stranger with no explanation as to why. I feel lost and I struggle to recognise myself."
The court heard Ashby had 10 previous convictions for 18 offences and a history of drug abuse-related mental illness. He was homeless at the time of the rape, having been discharged from psychiatric care three days prior without a support package. However, the judge concluded that while his mental health was negatively affected, it was due to his "voluntary use of illicit drugs," not an underlying mental disorder.
