Ashby pleaded guilty to multiple charges during the second day of the trial on Tuesday, in relation to the attack.

He admitted counts of rape, robbery, intentional strangulation and religiously aggravated assault.

Mr Justice Pepperall has returned to the courtroom and has taken his seat.

The court has assembled to hear the judge's remarks and what sentence he will give to John Ashby.

Stay with us as we bring you live updates from Birmingham Crown Court.

During this morning's hearing, prosecutor Phil Bradley Bradley KC told the court the victim had been walking home when Ashby followed her after they both got off the bus at Birmingham Road.

"In the minutes that followed, this man followed the woman to her home address, keeping a distance between them as he did so, doubtless to not arouse her suspicion," the court was told.

After the victim arrived at her home, Bradley said Ashby was seen walking up and down the driveway before picking up a stick, which he then placed inside his jacket before barging into her home and raping and attacking her.

Following the conclusion of Heeley's statement, Mr Justice Pepperall adjourns the hearing and says the court will reconvene at 12:45 BST.

Earlier, the court was told Ashby had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C.

The prosecution said that the victim had to be tested for the virus, but tested negative.

The defence barrister tells the court she accepted Ashby was a "person who is dangerous" but asked the judge to consider whether his crimes were dangerous.

He had no previous convictions for serious violence or sexual offences, Heeley tells the judge, adding that all other offences were committed during the course of the rape.

In response, Mr Justice Pepperall told the court there had been a previous event where Ashby had grabbed a stranger on the street, saying he was "sexually frustrated".

There had been no conviction, but "in assessing risk I'm entitled to take into account that information," said the judge.

In discussion with Heeley, Mr Jusice Pepperall said Ashby "lacked the empathy" other people would have, but said it did not excuse this offending.

After considering the doctor’s report around Ashby's mental health, he said it did not feel it provided a mitigation in this case.

Sophie Madden
Reporting from Birmingham Crown Court

The defence said Ashby had been sectioned in September 2025 and had been showing emotional disregulation and impulsivity, exacerbated by substance abuse.

His mental health struggles included being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, Heeley told the court.

Defence barrister Michelle Heeley KC is now addressing the court.

The defence "accepted in full," events that had been set out in court, she said.

But, she added there was no evidence that Ashby had to set out to carry out the attack that day.

"She was not specifically targeted," she said.

He had previously been sectioned, she told the court, being in hospital for psychotic episodes for over a month.

"He had been released with no support package in place.

"He is fit to plead but does have mental health difficulties."

Today's sentencing has raised a number of distressing details about what the victim was subjected to.

If you have been affected by the issues raised, help is available through BBC Action Line.

"I’ve seen how much this has affected every part of her life,” the partner said in his statement.

He said she had been taking medication and suffering from panic attacks.

"I am committed to supporting her in healing and getting the closure she deserves,” he said.

He said he was trying to be as understanding as he could, adding: “It hasn’t been easy and the impact on us is ongoing but we will get through this."

The victim's partner has also suffered from anxiety attacks, the court heard from his impact statement.

He said he avoided going anywhere and rarely left the house.

"We're trying to navigate this," he said.

The attack had "massively impacted ourselves and our families".

"Seeing her struggle to cope has been unbearable at times."

The court is now hearing a statement from the victim's partner, read out by prosecution barrister Phil Bradley KC.

The hearing is told the partner felt both guilt and sadness for what she went through and because he was not there to protect her.

The victim impact statement concludes with the victim saying she refused to let the attack define her.

"I knew I had to come to court for closure," she said.

She explained she had wanted to face her attacker, saying she would have been willing to give evidence "so I could see this person and explain what he had done to me".

His guilty plea had made her emotional, she said.

"I knew I was finally free - he cannot get to me or hurt me any more."

She said she finally "have the closure I deserve," adding she hoped to get married and return to work.

The woman said it had been "overwhelming" to relive the attack during the court case.

“This incident has changed who I am as a person and how I live my life,” she added.

She said she had taken steps to try and recover, but what happened would stay with her every day.

"I know this experience will stay with me for a long time," she said, adding that it had affected her relationships with her family and friends.

She said she also felt "deep feelings of shame" even though what happened was not her fault.

The victim said in her statement that she "finally felt free" after Ashby pleaded guilty to the charges.

"I no longer feel trapped," she added. "I know he can no longer get to me or hurt me any more."

She said she was now able to piece her life together and look to the future.

"I refuse to let this define me and stop me from living my life to the fullest," she said.

Alex Homer
Reporting from Birmingham Crown Court

In her victim impact statement, the woman said she had experienced panic attacks, the court heard, having to take antidepressants and sleeping medication "to cope with everyday life".

As the court case neared, her panic attacks increased in frequency and two required her to call an ambulance, the prosecutor read.

In her victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said she was "constantly getting flashbacks" and did not want her friends to see her upset or know what happened to her.

The court also heard she felt she could not go ahead with her wedding while the case was going on.

Phil Mackie

In the victim statement being read out by Bradley, the woman said: "My life has drastically changed. I feel lost, I struggle to recognise myself.

"I’m still hyper-aware of every noise I’m hearing... everything makes me jump, I’m constantly on edge."

The victim is visibly upset listening to the statement being read out.