Birmingham: A 32-year-old man in the United Kingdom has pleaded guilty to carrying out a violent rape and robbery of a Sikh woman inside her home, in an attack that was also marked by religiously aggravated abuse.
John Ashby, who has no fixed address, changed his plea at Birmingham Crown Court on the second day of trial proceedings, admitting to charges of rape, robbery, intentional strangulation and religiously aggravated assault.
The court heard that the incident took place in Walsall in October 2025. The victim, who did not know Ashby, had returned home after getting off a bus, unaware that he had followed her. Prosecutors said he later entered her house armed with a stick picked up from outside.
After hearing a noise, the woman tried to protect herself by locking herself in a bathroom. However, Ashby forced his way in and launched a brutal assault. Prosecutor Phil Bradley KC told the court that the accused turned off the lights and declared he was “here to have fun” before attacking her.
During the assault, the victim was beaten with a stick, strangled and forced into a bathtub where hot water was turned on. The court was told that throughout the ordeal, Ashby hurled Islamophobic abuse, apparently believing the woman to be Muslim, despite her being Sikh.
He also forced the victim to repeat phrases and referred to himself as “the master,” while continuing to make degrading remarks. After the assault, he stole jewellery and a mobile phone before fleeing the scene when disturbed by a noise outside.
The victim immediately raised an alarm, and police reached the spot within minutes. She later identified Ashby in an identity parade. He was arrested two days later in Birmingham’s Perry Barr area.
During police questioning, Ashby made further remarks targeting the victim’s appearance and expressed hostility toward the local community. Court proceedings were briefly disrupted when a member of the public confronted the accused, but order was quickly restored.
Ashby is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday. Justice Pepperall indicated that a life sentence is being considered, describing the accused as a dangerous offender and noting the severity of the crimes, including the element of religious hostility.
