racially aggravated rape

Man jailed for life for racially aggravated rape of Sikh woman in Walsall

John Ashby, 32, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 13.5 years for the racially aggravated rape of a Sikh woman in Walsall, West Midlands in October 2025. Ashby followed the woman home from a bus, broke into her residence armed with a metre-long stick, and subjected her to a 24-minute ordeal while making religious and racial abuse. He is believed to be the first person in England and Wales convicted for a religiously motivated rape. The court heard Ashby had watched anti-women material including content from Andrew Tate before the attack.