Man jailed over brutal rape in Walsall

A sex attacker who followed a woman into her home and subjected her to a brutal rape as he abused her over what he thought was her religion was today jailed.

The woman, who is Sikh, had caught a bus home from Walsall town centre on the evening of October 25 which John Ashby, aged 32, was also travelling on.

She returned home to the Park Hall area shortly before 6.30pm when Ashby broke into her home while she was upstairs in the bathroom.

Ashby subjected her to a horrific ordeal where he raped and physically assaulted her. During the attack he consistently made abusive religious comments to her.

She managed to alert neighbours to her ordeal while Ashby left the property taking her mobile phone in the process.

We were called and quickly identified Ashby after viewing CCTV which showed him in Walsall town centre and on the bus travelling to her home. Following enquiries, we arrested him at a location in Perry Barr.

Ashby left his DNA at the scene including from a toothbrush which was in the bathroom and which he used to clean his teeth following the attack.

Ashby also admitted religiously aggravated bodily harm, sexual assault, strangulation and robbery.

Ashby, of no fixed address, changed his pleas to guilty part way through his trial this week at Birmingham Crown Court, where he today received a life sentence to serve a minimum term of 13 years and 185 days.

In a victim impact statement, the woman 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. 

"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.

"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.

"Emotionally, this has had a significant impact on me. 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.

"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."

DC Sophie Hampshire, who carried out the investigation and who has supported the woman throughout, added: "She was subjected to the most horrendous attack by a complete stranger in her own home, which is anyone’s worst nightmare.

"A team of specialist officers worked tirelessly to gather as much as evidence as possible, with a lot of time spent trawling CCTV. 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."

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.

We will continue to speak and listen to women’s charities, female community leaders, community safety partners, independent advisory groups and local politicians as that work continues.

To find out what we are doing to protect women and girls from violence in the home, online and in public spaces go to: Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) | West Midlands Police