Man in court accused of sex attack on Sikh woman

John Ashby is expected to appear again at Birmingham Crown Court on 2 February

A man has appeared in court accused of committing a sex attack and religiously aggravated assault on a Sikh woman.

John Ashby, 32, and described by police as white British, has also been accused of strangulation and the robbery of jewellery and a mobile phone.

It came after a woman, in her 20s, was targeted in the Park Hall area of Walsall, in the West Midlands, on 25 October.

Mr Ashby, of no fixed address, did not enter pleas during the hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody.

The accused, wearing a grey round-necked sweater, spoke only to confirm his name as he appeared before Judge Andrew Smith KC via a video link from HMP Birmingham.

Judge Smith granted an application by defence counsel that Mr Ashby would not be arraigned until a later date.

He will next appear at Birmingham Crown Court on 2 February.