Man accused of sex attack and religiously aggravated assault remanded in custody
John Ashby was not asked to enter a plea
Last updated 26th Nov 2025
A man accused of committing a sex attack and a religiously aggravated assault on a Sikh woman has been remanded in custody after appearing before a Crown Court judge by prison video-link.
John Ashby was not asked to enter pleas during a 14-minute hearing at Birmingham Crown Court.
The defendant, aged 32 and of no fixed address, was charged in October by West Midlands Police in connection with an attack on a woman in her 20s in the Park Hall area of Walsall.
He made no indication of plea at a previous hearing to charges of intentional penetration without consent, intentional touching without consent, strangulation, religiously aggravated actual bodily harm and robbery of a mobile phone and jewellery.
Ashby, wearing a grey round-necked sweater, spoke only to confirm his name as he appeared before Judge Andrew Smith KC on Wednesday via a video-link to HMP Birmingham.
Judge Smith granted an application by defence counsel that Ashby not be arraigned until a later date.
Adjourning the case, Judge Smith told Ashby: "I for the present time fix the trial to begin on the 20th of April next year.
"Mr Ashby, you will appear at court on the 2nd of February of next year, whether that is on the link or in person will be decided closer to the time.
"Whichever way you appear, you must attend at court."