A white man "filled with hatred" has been sentenced to life in prison for raping a Sikh woman while subjecting her to racial abuse in her own home in Walsall, West Midlands. John Ashby, 32, followed the woman home after spotting her on a bus in October last year, then broke in armed with a metre-long stick and subjected her to a 24-minute ordeal.
Details of the Attack
Ashby wrongly believed the woman was Muslim and verbally abused her throughout the sexual assault, also strangling and beating her. Prosecutors in England and Wales have no other recorded case of a conviction for a religiously motivated rape. The court heard that Ashby forced the victim to undress and repeatedly called her a "fucking Muslim bitch," even after she told him she was Sikh. He made references to his whiteness and Britishness while raping her, slapping and punching her, and declaring, "I am the master." He forced her to repeat the abuse back to him and at one point made her sit in a bath while he poured water over her and say the word "hallelujah."
Judge's Remarks
Mr Justice Pepperall stated that Ashby attacked the woman because she was Asian, wrongly believing she was Muslim, and described the rapist as a "deeply unpleasant racist and Islamophobe." The judge highlighted the "additional degradation and humiliation" inflicted, noting that Ashby pulled his victim back after she attempted to escape. It emerged that Ashby had watched anti-women material on social media, including content from influencer Andrew Tate, prior to the attack.
Guilty Plea and Sentence
Ashby changed his plea to guilty on Tuesday, the day after his trial began, admitting to rape, robbery, intentional strangulation, and religiously aggravated assault. After his arrest, he told officers, "You never see any Englishmen in Perry Barr any more." The judge imposed a life sentence with a minimum term of 13 and a half years, stressing that Ashby must serve it in full before being considered for release. The life term, rare for a single rape, was deemed necessary due to Ashby's dangerousness, particularly towards women.
Victim Impact
The victim, who has legal anonymity, provided a harrowing impact statement. She said, "What happened to me has changed every part of my life. I feel lost and I struggle to recognise myself. I feel like my sense of safety, in myself and my surroundings, has been taken away from me." She described suffering flashbacks, anxiety, and fear of every noise. She has quit her job and moved home but expressed determination to face her attacker: "Despite the distress I was feeling … I knew I had to be brave and strong. It took everything in my being to come to court." The judge praised her bravery, saying, "I have nothing but admiration for your bravery."
Reactions
Dabinderjit Singh of the Sikh Federation (UK) said, "The severe racist element of the attack has been highlighted in the court proceedings and sends a strong signal to all racists that carry out violent attacks." Sukhvinder Kaur, chair of Sikh Women’s Aid, which supported the victim, added, "At the centre of this case is an exceptionally brave survivor whose strength, dignity and resilience have been extraordinary."
