A 32-year-old man has been charged with rape following an alleged attack in Walsall that police are treating as racially aggravated. John Ashby, a white British man from Stockland Green, Birmingham, appeared before Birmingham magistrates court on Tuesday.
Ashby faces additional charges of sexual assault, strangulation, racially aggravated actual bodily harm, and robbery. The charges relate to an attack on a woman in her 20s in the Park Hall area of Walsall on Saturday evening.
West Midlands police arrested Ashby just before 7am on Monday in the Perry Barr area of Birmingham. He was remanded in custody pending his court appearance.
Chief Superintendent Phil Dolby of Walsall police acknowledged community concerns, stating that officers have visited faith establishments and spoken with local leaders about women's safety. Detective Superintendent Ronan Tyrer confirmed that the victim is being supported by specially trained officers.
