Man Accused of Raping Sikh Woman After Mistaking Her for Muslim
A man has been accused of breaking into a Sikh woman's home, attacking her with a stick, and raping her because he believed she was Muslim, a court has heard. John Ashby, 32, allegedly followed the victim from Walsall town centre before forcing his way into her property in what prosecutors describe as a religiously aggravated assault.
Details of the Alleged Attack
Prosecutor Phil Bradley KC told Birmingham Crown Court that Ashby targeted the woman on October 25 last year. The victim had left work and taken a bus to Walsall town centre around 4:30 pm, visiting a Poundland store before boarding another bus home. Unbeknownst to her, Ashby was on the same bus, initially sitting upstairs before moving to her level, where he began observing her.
After she disembarked at around 6:30 pm for a short walk home, Ashby followed her, captured on CCTV disappearing from view near her residence. He then allegedly assessed how to enter her home, picking up a stick and concealing it in his jacket. Once inside, he barged into the bathroom where the woman was changing, turned off the lights, and announced he was there to have fun.
Religious Abuse and Violence
During the attack, Ashby is said to have called the woman a Muslim b**** and told her she was dirty, while striking her with the stick and strangling her. He demanded she climb into the bathtub, where he poured hot water over her and instructed her to say hallelujah. Ashby allegedly exposed himself, slapped her with his genitals, and raped her, repeating that he was the master and she was a b****.
After the rape, he ordered her to the bedroom, where he reiterated his intent to give her some British c***. In a desperate bid to escape, the woman claimed there was oil in the kitchen and ran for the front door, but Ashby dragged her back. He was eventually spooked by a noise outside, allowing her to scream for help. Neighbors found her naked and hysterical, rushing to her aid.
Investigation and Arrest
Ashby was arrested two days later in Perry Barr. During police interviews, he made no comment except when shown a photo of the victim, asking why she wasn't wearing a hijab and stating, I don't know who that woman is as far as I'm aware. DNA evidence linked Ashby to the crime scene, with matches found on the woman, a vape, and a toothbrush in her home. The victim also identified him in a lineup.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Ashby, of no fixed abode, denies multiple charges:
- Rape
- Intentional strangulation
- Robbery of jewellery and a mobile phone
- Religiously aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm
The prosecution argues the attack was motivated by hostility towards Muslims, with Ashby mistakenly targeting a Sikh woman. The trial continues, focusing on issues of consent and the religiously aggravated nature of the assault. The woman, who came to the UK for work in September 2023, is described as having endured a traumatic ordeal that has sparked concerns about hate crimes in the community.
