A man has confessed to sexually assaulting a Sikh woman after unlawfully entering her residence and hurling derogatory insults at her based on her religion.
John Ashby, aged 32, entered a guilty plea at Birmingham Crown Court today for the crime of sexually assaulting and attacking a Sikh woman with religious prejudice. Initially denying the accusations, he reversed his stance one day into the trial.
According to prosecutors, Ashby, who does not have a fixed address, assaulted the victim in Walsall in October by trailing her off a bus and intruding into her home while she was upstairs.
During the trial’s commencement on Monday, Phil Bradley KC, addressing the jury consisting of six men and six women, detailed the heinous actions of Ashby. Despite the victim’s screams, Ashby instructed her to undress, struck her with a stick, choked her, and demanded she enter the bathtub. The prosecutor highlighted that Ashby racially and religiously abused the victim throughout the ordeal.
Allegedly, Ashby inquired which toothbrush belonged to the woman for his use, exposed himself, and engaged in lewd behavior. He proceeded to pour hot water over her, commanding her to utter ‘hallelujah’ as he did so.
In footage captured by police body cameras, the victim, visibly distressed, was shown to a jury of twelve, where she recounted being insulted as a “Muslim” by her attacker.
Witnesses described the woman as hysterical, screaming repeatedly, as she reported to the police being sexually assaulted in the bathroom by the intruder wielding a wooden object.
In a video testimony presented to the court, the victim recalled the harrowing incident, stating that Ashby wielded a stick, made inappropriate remarks, and racially insulted her.
During the video playback in court, a member of the public confronted Ashby from the gallery, chastising him to ‘sort out’ his actions. Ashby responded aggressively, prompting the judge to adjourn the trial briefly.
Upon resumption, Ashby admitted to the religiously aggravated sexual assault and is scheduled for sentencing on Friday.
Rav Dhillon from the Crown Prosecution Service condemned the attack as a disturbing act fueled by religious animosity, emphasizing the victim’s vulnerability in her own home. Dhillon praised the collaborative effort with West Midlands Police in compiling compelling evidence, including CCTV footage, DNA samples, and witness statements, which led to Ashby’s guilty plea.
The Crown Prosecution Service expressed solidarity with the victim and hoped that the outcome would provide a sense of justice for her.
