'Stranger tracked woman home then raped her because he thought she was Muslim'

'Stranger tracked woman home then raped her because he thought she was Muslim'John Ashby, 32, is accused of following a Sikh woman home from Walsall town centre and raping her 'because he thought she was Muslim'NewsAnnabal Bagdi and Zahra Khaliq News Reporter21:29, 20 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesThe woman was followed home from Walsall Town centre(Image: Google)A man broke into a Sikh woman's home and attacked her with a stick before raping her "because he thought she was Muslim", a court heard.Prosecutor say John Ashby followed the victim home on a bus from Walsall town centre and "barged" into her property after "assessing" how he could get inside. The 32-year-old then allegedly branded her a "Muslim b****", telling her he was there to "have fun" and "give her some British c***".Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court were told that Ashby launched a "religiously aggravated" attack on the woman, during which he told her "say hallelujah" and "repeat his mantra" that "he was the master and she was a b****". He then allegedly fled the scene, leaving the woman "understandably hysterical" and screaming out "help me" as neighbours rushed to her aid.Days later, he was arrested in Perry Barr and told police while being booked into custody: "You never see any Englishmen in Perry Barr anymore." When police showed Ashby a photo of the woman during interview, he asked why she was not wearing a hijab.Of the Crown's case that the alleged offence was religiously aggravated, prosecutor Phil Bradley KC said: "It was his hostility towards her, believing she was a Muslim and calling her a Muslim b**** before assaulting her."View 2 ImagesThe case is being heard at Birmingham Crown Court(Image: BPM Media)Ashby, of no fixed abode, denies rape, intentional strangulation, robbery of jewellery and a mobile phone, and religiously aggrava...