Man admits religiously aggravated rape and assault

MAN ADMITS RELIGIOUSLY AGGRAVATED RAPE AND ASSAULT

A 32-year-old man has admitted guilt for the religiously motivated rape and assault of a Sikh woman.

John Ashby pleaded guilty to the charges at Birmingham Crown Court in Walsall.

According to the court, the woman was assaulted after Ashby followed her on foot and forcefully entered her home, including her bathroom, on a Monday.

Prosecutor Phil Bradley KC, asserting the case against Ashby, explained that the woman was followed after disembarking from a bus in October of the previous year.

Mr Bradley highlighted that Ashby, a stranger to the victim, had already chosen her as his target.

He pointed out that Ashby started following her immediately after she left the bus and began her short walk home, without her knowing.

The court revealed that after she entered her residence and went to the bathroom, Ashby retrieved a stick from outside and also entered her property.

When the woman heard a noise, she attempted to lock the bathroom door, but Ashby forced his way inside.

It was further stated that once inside, Ashby turned off the light and claimed he was "here to have fun." The prosecutor described how Ashby, despite her screams, ordered her to remove her clothes, struck her with the stick, and tried to choke her by wrapping his hands around her neck, demanding she get into the bathtub.

Throughout the assault, he verbally racially and religiously insulted her.