'Walsall predator prolonged trauma of victim before changing plea' - Sikh Women's Aid say ahead of sentencing
Sikh Women’s Aid have warned that Walsall rapist John Ashby prolonged the trauma of his victim by taking the case to trial before changing his plea.
A West Midlands-based charity that supports Sikh women who are victims have violence have warned of the prolonged trauma caused by Walsall rapist John Ashby before changing his plea.
The 32-year-old, of no fixed abode, admitted charges of rape, robbery, intentional strangulation and religiously aggravated assault earlier this week - after being verbally abused in the dock.
Ashby asked to see his barrister and changed his pleas around an hour after being sworn at and told to “sort your sh*t out” by a member of the public who approached the dock.
His victim, a Sikh woman who was hit with a stick and racially abused during the attack, had been due to enter the witness box at Birmingham Crown Court later on Tuesday (April 21) to give evidence against Ashby.
Sikh Women’s Aid have since reacted to the plea change, claiming that the case was an example of how perpetrators of sexual and violent crimes can prolong the trauma of their victims by taking cases to trial.
Chairwoman for the organisation, Sukhvinder Kaur said : “The defendant chose to proceed to trial, prolonging proceedings and contributing to the ongoing trauma experienced by the victim, only to change his plea partway through.
“This reflects wider concerns about how perpetrators are able to navigate the system in ways that can compound harm for survivors.”
A wider statement from Sikh Woman’s Aid said that the organisation “welcomes the guilty plea entered in the case concerning the racially aggravated rape of a Sikh woman in Walsall.”
It added: “This case formed part of a series of attacks that gained national attention, in which two women were raped and others were racially targeted across the West Midlands between August and October 2025.
“These incidents struck fear and anger across Sikh Panjabi communities in the Midlands and across the UK, with many women changing their daily routines as a result. Following the attack, we acknowledge the swift and diligent response of the Public Protection Unit at West Midlands Police, whose work led to the arrest of the suspect within 24 hours.
“Our thoughts remain firmly with the survivor at the centre of this case. Her courage and resilience in seeking justice following such a horrific ordeal must be recognised. We now look to the sentencing hearing on Friday and expect that it reflects the severity of the harm caused and the clear danger this perpetrator poses.”
Ashby is now due to be sentenced today (April 24).
Mr Justice Pepperall warned the defendant that he was considering the imposition of a life sentence.