Footage of racist thug stalking unsuspecting woman in Walsall before subjecting her to rape ordeal
Images have released by officers showing rapist John Ashby stalking his victim after targeting her on a bus.
The moment a dangerous and racist thug followed an unsuspecting Sikh woman off a bus in Walsall before raping her "because he thought she was Muslim" was captured on footage and have been made public by West Midlands Police.
After stalking her home John Ashby, aged 32, armed with a large rod found a way to break into the woman's home before subjecting her to a terrifying racially-motivated ordeal during which she was struck, raped, strangled and assaulted, during which he verbally abused her.
The incident attracted outrage in the community with residents, women’s and faith groups calling for Ashby to be identified and caught.
Ch Supt Samantha Batey, of Walsall Police, said: “This was an abhorrent and violent attack on a woman, which was made all the worse by the language which Ashby used during the ordeal. We were able to get to the lady very quickly after she made contact us, and offer her immediate support.
“From the moment it was reported to us, our investigators worked flat out to identify the person responsible and support the lady who was attacked. That support continues to this day, and our thoughts remain with her and her loved ones. We understand the impact this horrific attack had on communities in the West Midlands and beyond.
“We have spoken with faith and community leaders in the aftermath of what happened and remain committed to doing everything we can to make women safer, and feel safer."
During his trial at Birmingham Crown Court jurors heard he had followed the woman, aged in her 20s, home from work after boarding the same bus as her in Walsall on October 25 last year.
He then barged into her home calling her a “Muslim b****”, telling her he was there to "have fun" and "give her some British ****, saying he was "the master" and he asked why she was not wearing a hijab - a Muslim head covering.
Ashby, of no fixed address, at first denied rape, intentional strangulation, robbery and racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm before admitting what he had done in a dramatic change of plea on the second day of the trial.
Mr Phil Bradley, prosecuting, said the Indian born woman had left work, before catching a bus to Walsall town centre and then boarded another bus to complete her journey home.
Ashby had got on the same bus and initially sat upstairs but s short while later he moved to the lower level which was where she was sitting a complete stranger to her. Parts of the sequence of events was helpfully captured on CCTV and doorbells fitted with cameras.
Mr Bradley told the jury: "She turned into her drive way and went to the front door and the defendant continued to walk past her address. However, he quickly about turned. He picked up a stick which he put inside his jacket. Within a short time he was inside her house. She went upstairs to change her clothes and went to the bathroom."
She told the police that she heard a noise downstairs." Because she was home alone she had no reason to lock the bathroom door. She rushed to do so. However, she was too late and this defendant barged his way in and so her ordeal began."
Wicked Ashby was preparing to attack her a second time in a bedroom when she “seized her chance” to go downstairs, but as she tried to flee he dragged her back into the house. Mr Bradley said moments later Ashby fled with items of jewellery and her mobile phone after he appeared to have been “spooked” by a noise outside.
Despite being naked and in a distressed state the victim left the property to raise the alarm and a nearby resident came to her aid, resulting in the police arriving at the scene within minutes. Officers later took swabs from her and found DNA matching that of the Ashby’s, who has previous convictions. Following a public appeal to identify him Ashby was tracked down and arrested in Perry Barr three days later.
His finger prints were also found on a vape he had left behind as well as his DNA on the woman’s toothbrush which he had used in the bathroom.
When he was in custody he said told the officers “you don't see English men in Perry Barr any more”.
Ashby will be sentenced this morning in Birmingham.