A court has heard that a man unlawfully entered the residence of a Sikh woman, assaulted her with a stick, and then sexually assaulted her under the belief that she was of Muslim faith.

The prosecution alleges that John Ashby tracked the victim from Walsall town center to her home, where he forcefully entered her property after carefully planning his intrusion. Allegedly, he verbally abused her using derogatory language related to her perceived religion, claiming he was there for his own enjoyment and to subject her to inappropriate acts.

During the incident, Ashby reportedly subjected the woman to a violent and religiously motivated assault, instructing her to repeat degrading phrases and asserting dominance over her. Subsequently, he left the scene, leaving the victim in a distressed state, calling for help as neighbors came to her aid.

Following the assault, Ashby was apprehended by authorities in Perry Barr, where he made concerning remarks about the lack of English individuals in the area. When presented with a photo of the victim, he made insensitive comments regarding her appearance.

The prosecution argues that Ashby’s actions were motivated by hostility towards the victim’s perceived religious background, leading to charges including rape, intentional strangulation, robbery, and religiously aggravated assault causing bodily harm.

The trial revealed that Ashby had surreptitiously followed the victim from her workplace to the bus stop and subsequently to her residence. He was observed on surveillance footage outside the victim’s home, planning his entrance and carrying a weapon.

Upon gaining entry to the home, Ashby proceeded to physically assault and sexually violate the woman, using racist and religiously offensive language throughout the ordeal. Despite her attempts to escape, he allegedly continued his abusive behavior, causing further distress to the victim.

DNA evidence linking Ashby to the crime scene, as well as the victim’s identification of him in a lineup, substantiate the prosecution’s case against him. The ongoing trial focuses on the issue of consent in the context of the assault.