‘Deeply unpleasant racist and Islamophobe’: UK man jailed for life for raping Sikh woman he mistook for Muslim

John Ashby, a man from the UK who raped a Sikh woman after wrongly believing she was Muslim, has been given a life sentence. Ashby, who admitted his crimes earlier in the week, was sentenced on Friday.During sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court, Mr Justice Pepperall described Ashby as a “deeply unpleasant racist and Islamophobe”, as reported by the BBC.The attack took place in October 2025, when Ashby followed the woman, who was in her 20s and unknown to him, after she got off a bus. He tracked her to her home in Walsall and entered the property carrying a stick he had picked up from the ground.Once inside, he assaulted her, striking her with the stick and attempting to strangle her before forcing her into the bathroom, where he raped her. During the attack, he shouted anti-Muslim abuse, even though the victim repeatedly told him she was Sikh.Prosecutors said the violence continued as he forced her into a bedroom, where he made degrading remarks and poured hot water over her. He also forced her to say “hallelujah” during the ordeal. The assault ended when he appeared to be disturbed by a noise outside, after which he fled, taking jewellery and the victim’s mobile phone.The woman alerted police shortly after the incident, and officers arrived within minutes. She later identified Ashby in an identity parade, and he was arrested two days after the attack.Ashby admitted charges of rape, robbery, intentional strangulation and religiously aggravated assault during the trial. He has been told he must serve a minimum of 14 years before being considered for parole.