Women afraid to be out in public after racially aggravated rapes

Make-up artist Ravita Pannu said families needed to strike a balance between protecting their daughters and not being too strict

Make-up artist Ravita Pannu has poured years of hard work into her beauty salon in Walsall.

Born in nearby Wolverhampton, she is an established business owner and proud mum.

But she's also one of several Asian women in the West Midlands who tell the BBC they're now constantly looking over their shoulder. And she's terrified about her daughter leaving the house.

That's because within the space of two months and taking place only 10 miles (16km) apart, police have received reports of two racially aggravated rapes.

Early on 9 September, a Sikh woman in her 20s was raped on Tame Road in Oldbury.

And on the evening of 25 October in the Park Hall area of Walsall, another Sikh woman who is also in her 20s was raped. A 32-year-old man named John Ashby has been charged.

In both cases perpetrators were unknown to their victims.

Another woman was assaulted with an electrical stun device in Wolverhampton on 27 October in what police said was a racially aggravated physical - but not sexual - assault.

Sukhvinder Kaur, the chair of trustees at Sikh Women's Aid, says the charity's helpline has been receiving more calls than usual from women who are fearful.

One woman, a single mother from Walsall with three daughters, asked the charity for a grant because she was worried about her daughters walking to school, as their route included the road where the Walsall attack occurred.

Ms Kaur said: "There is a real sense of fear now - this isn't far-right narratives on the TV, it's not a social media thing, it is now coming on to our streets."

West Midlands Police said making the area "a safer place for our communities, particularly women and girls is our priority".

The force added it had also linked up with "women's charities, female community leaders, community safety partners, independent advisory groups and local politicians to discuss women's safety".

Speaking after charges were brought in the case of the Walsall attack last week, Ch Supt Phil Dolby said the force understood "the fear and concern this attack has caused in our communities".

Sukhvinder Kaur says Sikh Women's Aid has been inundated with calls since the attacks

We spoke to Asian women of different faiths in Birmingham and the Black Country who voiced concerns for their safety. Some said they had previously felt safe living here but were now scared of leaving their homes, or even being in the house alone.

Shabnam Ansari, a Muslim woman from Dudley, said: "I wear a hijab so I've always been aware that I might be a victim of racism.

"But what happened in Oldbury and Walsall makes me feel like being brown is enough of a target to be physically and sexually abused."

Jazzy Kular, a 51-year-old teacher from Birmingham, said the rapes had made her afraid to open the door to strangers.

Council worker Kavita Masawala, 41, from South Birmingham, added: "As an Asian woman born and raised in Birmingham, hearing about these rapes is heartbreaking.

"We're in 2025 and still having to watch over our backs and be worried about our skin colour.

"I now have to think twice before going for a walk."

Mahsooma, a mother from Birmingham who didn't give her surname, visits Walsall's play areas and said she was unsure if she could take her children any more.

"I've never felt this way before," she said.

Ravita says it is an emotive time for a lot of people, with the two assaults "putting a sense of fear into the community"

Beauty salon owner Ravita has a global following of almost 30,000 on Instagram - of which many are Sikh women in the USA, Canada and Dubai.

"I've had followers from abroad reach out who can't believe what's happening," she said. "[They feel] that sense of tension and stress and anxiety for their sisters here in the UK."

At home, the 45-year-old is scared for the safety of her daughter, who is about the same age as the victims in Walsall and Oldbury.

"We've said to our daughter: no more buses, we will pick you up from work," Ravita said.

But she wants to get the balance right as she is cautious of exerting too much control over her child. The recent incidents make her worry that some Asian households will get too strict with their daughters.

"As a mum, do I want my daughter out and about [right now]? Hell no," she said.

"I'd love to just wrap her up in cotton wool and keep her close, but we can't do that either because she has a life to live and rightfully should be able to do so."

Mahsooma says she is concerned about bringing her children to Walsall

While women are considering how safe they feel on the streets and in their own homes, community organisations are debating whether to hand out rape alarms.

Sukhvinder Kaur says women have been feeling they have to recalibrate their entire lives and personal freedoms.

Details of help and support with sexual violence are available at BBC Action Line.