Man Given Life Sentence for Rape and Religiously Aggravated Assault of Sikh Woman

John Ashby, a 32-year-old man with no fixed address, has received a life sentence after raping a Sikh woman in her home and subjecting her to a barrage of religiously motivated abuse. The attack occurred in Walsall, where Ashby assaulted the victim, a woman in her 20s, with a stick while hurling anti-Muslim slurs, mistakenly believing her to be of that faith.

The sentencing took place at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday. The judge called Ashby a “deeply unpleasant racist and Islamaphobe,” emphasizing the severity of his actions. Ashby will serve a minimum of 14 years in prison for the charges he admitted during his trial, which concluded on Tuesday after he confessed to guilt.

Attack Details and Prosecution’s Account

The court learned during the trial that Ashby followed the victim as she disembarked from a bus in October 2025. After she arrived home, he entered her property without her knowledge, wielding a two-foot stick he had found on the ground. The prosecution highlighted that he forced her to remove her clothes in the bathroom, claiming to be a “British master,” and then threatened to strangle her before making her climb into the bathtub.

“He turned on the hot water tap and began pouring water over her, telling her to say ‘hallelujah’ as he did so,” said prosecutor Phil Bradley KC.

Following the assault, Ashby instructed the woman to lie on the bed in the bedroom, stating he was there “to have fun.” The attack ended abruptly when a noise outside startled him, prompting him to flee with her jewellery and mobile phone. The court was informed that Ashby had 10 prior convictions for 18 offenses and a history of drug-induced mental health issues.

The Victim’s Statement

“What happened to me has changed every part of my life. Before the incident, life was great. I was enjoying life. Now, my life has drastically changed. I feel like that version of myself has been stripped away by a complete stranger with no explanation as to why. I feel lost and I struggle to recognise myself,” the woman said in a personal statement read into the court record.

Ashby’s mental state during the attack was noted by the judge, who stated that while a doctor’s report confirmed his psychological distress, it was attributed to his “voluntary use of illicit drugs” rather than an underlying disorder. At the time of the rape, he was homeless, having left psychiatric care three days earlier without a support plan.

The victim attended the sentencing hearing, showing visible emotion at times. She was supported by friends throughout the process. The case underscores the impact of Ashby’s actions, which combined physical violence with religious prejudice.

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