Man convicted of raping woman in Walsall as trial brought to sudden halt

The trial of a man accused of carrying out a religiously aggravated rape on a stranger was brought to a sudden halt after the defendant changed his pleas to guilty.

On Tuesday afternoon John Ashby admitted offences rape, intentional strangulation, racially aggravated assault, and robbery in relation to the attack on a woman he followed off a bus in Walsall on October 25.

The 32-year-old changed his plea after a dramatic day at Birmingham Crown Court where the trial was earlier disrupted when a member of the public walked up to the dock and shouted verbal abuse. He had previously denied attacking the woman and calling her a “Muslim b****”.

Jurors saw the man leave the public gallery and walk up to the glass-fronted dock to confront Ashby, who had struck, verbally abused and raped a Sikh woman whom he wrongly believed was a Muslim.

Later in today’s proceedings, which involved the playing of the victim’s police video interview, Ashby’s defence council Miss Michelle Heeley KC asked that the charges be put to him once more. The defendant had yesterday given not guilty pleas ahead of the start of the trial.

On the direction of trial judge Mr Justice Pepperall the jury convicted Ashby, of no fixed abode, of all four offences.

Mr Justice Pepperall told Ashby: “Upon your admission and the verdict of this jury, you have been convicted of very serious offences. I am going to adjourn sentence until Friday.

“It seems to me that anybody who commits these sorts of offences in these circumstances is a very dangerous individual. The court must have in its mind whether or not a life sentence is the appropriate sentence. You will be sentenced on Friday. You must remain in custody.”

He told the jury: “The trial came to a sudden and crashing end when the defendant asked for the indictment to be put again. This is court jargon for the charges to be put to him again. “Today has been a particularly tough day as you have had to watch these recordings (of the evidence). You will not need to consider them any further.

“Member so the public are welcome to come into court other than the gent who misbehaved. If you wish, you are welcome to return for the sentence of Friday.”

Ashby was a complete stranger to the woman who was returning from work when he targeted her.

The jury had heard that within seconds of her getting off the bus just after 6.30pm he did the same and then began following her. After getting inside the property Ashby barged his way into bathroom where she was, telling her he was ‘here to have fun’. He struck her with a stick and squeezed her neck while calling her names and referring to himself as her “master”.

He was preparing to attack her a second time when she “seized her chance” to go downstairs, but as she tried to flee he dragged her back inside. Moments later Ashby fled with items of jewellery and her mobile phone after he was “spooked” by a noise outside.

The jury also heard evidence from neighbours who came to the victim's aid after hearing screams.

Ashby was tracked down to Perry Barr three days later and was arrested.

Defence barrister Miss Heeley said he had a history of mental health issues.

Rav Dhillon, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "This was a deeply disturbing attack driven by religious hatred, carried out against an innocent woman in her own home – where she would expect to feel safest.

"We worked closely together with West Midlands Police to build a robust case which included CCTV footage, DNA evidence, witness testimony and the strength of that evidence left the defendant no choice but to plead guilty.

"Our thoughts are with the victim, and we hope this outcome brings her some measure of justice."