A man has admitted raping a Sikh woman in her home while subjecting her to religiously aggravated abuse, changing his plea on the second day of his trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
John Ashby, 32, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to rape, robbery, intentional strangulation and religiously aggravated assault in connection with an attack in Walsall in October 2025.
The court heard Ashby had initially denied the charges but asked to speak to his barrister after proceedings were briefly interrupted when a member of the public approached the dock and shouted abuse at him.
Prosecutors said the attack began when Ashby followed the woman from a bus before entering her home armed with a stick he had picked up from the ground.
Jurors were told the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, attempted to lock herself in her bathroom after hearing a noise inside the property, but Ashby forced his way in.
Once inside, he turned off the lights and told her he was “here to have fun”, the court heard.
During the assault, Ashby struck the woman with the stick, placed his hands around her neck and forced her into the bathtub, where he poured hot water over her while issuing commands and abuse.
The prosecution said he repeatedly subjected the victim to anti-Muslim slurs, wrongly believing she was of that faith.
After the rape, Ashby instructed the woman to go into a bedroom and lie on the bed, continuing his verbal abuse.
The attack ended when he was disturbed by a noise outside and fled the property, taking jewellery and a mobile phone.
Police arrested Ashby in the Perry Barr area of Birmingham two days later.
During police interview, he questioned why the victim was not wearing a hijab when shown her photograph, the court heard.
The woman later identified Ashby during an identity parade.
The judge, Mr Justice Pepperall, warned Ashby he is considering imposing a life sentence when he is sentenced on Friday.