NICHOLAS ASHBY AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN HOLSWORTHY AND BARNSTAPLE

A disturbing case of sexual violence has culminated in the arrest and conviction of Nicholas Ashby, a 41-year-old man whose actions spanned across the areas of Holsworthy and Barnstaple. The series of events began in the early hours of Sunday, September 25, 2022, when a woman was walking home alone after a night out with friends. As she progressed along Bear Street, close to the entrance of Barnstaple Cemetery, she observed a car pull into a lay-by ahead of her, causing her to slow down and take note.

Shortly after passing the vehicle, the woman was approached by an unidentified man who proceeded to sexually assault her. During the attack, he placed his arm across her neck, causing her to momentarily lose consciousness. When she regained awareness, the assailant had returned to his vehicle and driven away. Overcome with fear and uncertainty, she hurriedly sought cover behind another parked vehicle nearby, fearing that the offender might return. Demonstrating quick thinking and presence of mind, she managed to record as many details as possible about her assailant and his car on her mobile phone, an act that the court later recognized as crucial evidence.

Upon reaching her home, she contacted police authorities, prompting an immediate investigation by Barnstaple CID. A Sexual Offences Liaison Officer was assigned to support her throughout the process. The police swiftly launched inquiries aimed at identifying the suspect, utilizing both her descriptions and a public media appeal to gather additional information.

In the following week, on the early hours of Sunday, October 2, 2022, a second attack occurred in the vicinity of Beaufort Walk. A woman walking home was approached from behind while she was on her phone. Her device suddenly lost power, and moments later, she was confronted by a man wielding a craft knife. He threatened to harm her if she made any noise and forcibly restrained her by pinning her to the ground. During the assault, he scarred her with the blade and continued the attack before fleeing the scene.

Despite her injuries, the victim managed to reach her home and alert the police. Emergency services, including specially trained officers and an ambulance crew, responded promptly. Investigations linked both incidents through forensic evidence and eyewitness accounts. Critical to the case was CCTV footage, which showed a black Mercedes E-class estate vehicle traversing the areas of both attacks on the respective nights.

Forensic analysis further cemented the linkage to the suspect, revealing DNA evidence from the scenes that matched Nicholas Ashby’s profile. This breakthrough led officers to track his vehicle to the M5 motorway, where traffic officers quickly arrested him while he was driving. The arrest happened on January 5, 2023. During police interviews, Ashby chose to remain silent, offering no comments, yet he was formally charged with both assault cases and kept in custody.

The police released footage—viewable at the top of this article—capturing the moment of Ashby’s arrest. The video shows him stepping out of his car as an officer informs him, “Okay, just to let you know, okay, you're under arrest on suspicion of rape, okay?” Subsequently, Ashby is shown being placed into handcuffs and loaded into a police vehicle.

In May 2023, Ashby pleaded guilty to the sexual assault committed in Barnstaple in September 2022, as well as the attempted rape in October of the same year. Given the strength of the evidence presented by the prosecution, he admitted guilt to both charges. In recognition of the severity of his crimes, the court sentenced him to serve a minimum of seven years and 11 months behind bars, marking a significant step in delivering justice for the victims involved.