A woman was brutally raped in her own home after a stranger followed her off a bus and targeted her because he believed she was Muslim, in a horrifying attack that police say turned an already appalling sexual assault into a case of religious hatred.
The victim, who is Sikh, had simply returned home after travelling by bus from Walsall town centre on the evening of 25th October.
But what should have been an ordinary journey home became the start of what police described as “anyone’s worst nightmare” when John Ashby, 32, followed her to the Park Hall area, broke into her home and launched a savage attack while repeatedly abusing her over what he thought was her faith.
On 24th April, Ashby, of no fixed address, was jailed for life after admitting rape, religiously aggravated bodily harm, sexual assault, strangulation and robbery. He changed his pleas to guilty part way through his trial at Birmingham Crown Court, where he was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 13 years and 185 days.
What makes this case especially chilling is not only the violence of the attack, but the motive behind it. Police say the woman was repeatedly subjected to abusive religious comments throughout the ordeal, with Ashby targeting her because he believed she was Muslim. The woman was in fact Sikh – but the hatred, the terror and the trauma were no less real.
HEADER: A bus ride home – and a predator behind her
She had returned home shortly before 6.30pm and gone upstairs to the bathroom when Ashby broke into the property.
He then subjected her to what police described as a horrific ordeal, raping and physically assaulting her inside her own home. Somehow, amid the terror, she managed to alert neighbours, while Ashby fled the scene – stealing her mobile phone as he left.
Police moved quickly and identified him through CCTV, which showed him in Walsall town centre and later on the bus travelling to her home. Following enquiries, officers arrested him in Perry Barr.
In one of the most disturbing details of the case, Ashby left DNA at the scene, including on a toothbrush in the bathroom which police said he used to clean his teeth after the attack.
HEADER: “My life has drastically changed”
In a devastating victim impact statement, the woman laid bare the profound damage the attack has done to her life, describing how the person she once was feels as though she has been taken from her.
She said: “What happened to me has changed every part of my life. Before the incident, life was great, I was happy and doing well in my job, I was enjoying life. I would go out with friends and family to all different parts of the country. I had plans for the future.
“Now, following the incident 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. I feel like my sense of safety, in myself and my surroundings, has been taken away from me.”
Even after moving home, she said the fear has not left her.
“Despite moving home, I am still hyper-aware of every noise I hear, whether that be doors shutting, objects falling everything makes me jump, I am always on edge. I constantly think someone is in the house, especially when I am home alone. I am always checking the doors and window are locked. I no longer feel comfortable in my own space.”
The attack also derailed plans to marry her partner in India, something she said she could not face while the court case continued.
“Myself and my partner had planned to go to India to get married. However, we were not able to go ahead with this because I was not ready for it. I could not go through with the marriage with the court case going on, it massively impacted my life.”
Describing the emotional toll, she said: “I feel a constant sense of fear and vulnerability. I have nightmares and flashbacks that make it feel like I am reliving what happened over and over again. I find it very hard to trust others and I am always on edge.”
But she also spoke of the courage it took to face him in court and the relief she felt when he finally admitted what he had done.
“Despite the distress I was feeling, I knew I had to come to court, I knew I had to be brave and strong, it took everything in my being to come to court that day, but I knew I needed to get the justice I deserve and closure on the ordeal I went through.
“Hearing him plead guilty, made me feel emotional, I knew I was finally free, I now no longer feel trapped, knowing he cannot get to me or hurt me anymore. I can begin to live my life again.
“I finally have the closure I deserve, and I am now able to start piecing my life back together and look forward to the future with my partner. I hope we can get married and I am hoping to be able to return back to work and be happy again. I refuse to let this define me and stop me from living me life to the fullest.”
Detective Constable Sophie Hampshire, who led the investigation and supported the woman throughout, said: “She was subjected to the most horrendous attack by a complete stranger in her own home, which is anyone’s worst nightmare.”
“We are grateful to the local community for being so accommodating and supportive as we sought to get the justice this woman deserved.
“However, none of this would have been possible without her showing such bravery and courage throughout the whole process. She was willing to come to court to give her to face the person who put her through the most horrendous ordeal and look at him in the eyes to give her evidence, which is one of the hardest things to do. We will continue to offer her support as she starts the next steps in her life.”
