The chilling moments before a brutal attack are revealed in newly released CCTV footage. It shows a man, later identified as John Ashby, deliberately following a woman off a public bus, a sinister intent already visible in his actions.
Ashby, 32, has now been sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 14 years, after pleading guilty to a religiously aggravated rape. The case unfolded with harrowing details, painting a picture of a targeted and violent assault.
The court heard how Ashby had specifically chosen his victim, spotting her on a bus in Walsall last October and then relentlessly pursuing her on foot to her home. This wasn’t a random act; it was a calculated decision to inflict terror.
Body-worn camera footage, shown in court, captured the immediate aftermath of the attack. The young woman, present during the proceedings, was visibly distressed, comforted by a police officer as she recounted the horrific abuse she endured.
During the assault, the attacker unleashed a torrent of hateful language, initially calling her a “bloody Muslim bitch.” When she corrected him, identifying as Sikh, the violence continued unabated in a bathroom within her own home.
The victim bravely described to police the moment she first confronted her attacker, armed with a stick. Her desperate screams for help were met with chilling indifference as he extinguished the lights and declared his intent to “have fun.”
Prosecutors presented a compelling case, bolstered by irrefutable DNA evidence, fingerprints recovered from a vape, and the victim’s unwavering identification of Ashby in a police lineup. The CCTV footage further solidified the evidence, showing him acquiring the weapon used in the attack.
The courtroom witnessed a dramatic turn when Ashby audibly dismissed the prosecution’s evidence as “bullshit.” This outburst prompted a powerful response from a member of the Sikh community, who confronted Ashby directly, demanding he “sort your shit out.”
The judge acknowledged the incident as “ugly,” but it underscored the profound impact of Ashby’s crimes and the outrage felt by the community. The sentence brings a measure of justice, but the scars of this horrific ordeal will undoubtedly remain.
