“The Guardian has analysed videos from Ashby’s social media accounts, including on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.”

“In several of them, his freestyle raps express misogynistic, violent and sexually violent lyrics.”

“He regularly refers to women as “bitches” and “hos” with many of the videos showing him flexing his body, boxing and smoking.”

““Put my dick in, get a bit of fun then move on to the next one. See me I got to get cash. I got to lift weight,” he says in a YouTube video uploaded in July 2023.”

“In another, uploaded on 29 January 2024, Ashby says: “You think you’re woman and I won’t slap you in your face.””

“In another he rants: “Never put myself down, I’m a confident alpha male.””

“Ashby was listed as being of no fixed abode during court proceedings and the archive of online clips show him to be a lonely, dishevelled figure, often alone and ranting into his smartphone’s camera in a squalid flat filled with cigarette butts and discarded food packaging.”

“Videos on his Instagram account appear to show him listening to Tate, who can be heard saying: “The modern world, call me misogynistic, the modern world was built by men.””

“Tate is also heard addressing being in jail in Romania and saying it could “happen to anybody. Especially as they continue these … attacks on masculinity as a whole.””

“In another YouTube video that Ashby appears to have listened to, Tate says: “I must suffer because I am a man, I am the head of my empire. I’m the head of the clan.””

“Philip Bradley KC, prosecuting, said Ashby had targeted the young woman telling her he was there “to have fun”.”

“He attempted to strangle her, punctuating his violent attack with racial and religious abuse, calling her a “fucking Muslim bitch” and “dirty”.”

“Ashby demanded that she climb into the bath and put the hot water on, the prosecution said, before asking which toothbrush was hers so he could clean his teeth.”

“He then raped her.”

“Ashby told her to go into the bedroom, where he referred to his genitalia as “white” and “British”.”

“He also demanded the woman repeat that he was a “master” and she was a “bitch”.”

“The ordeal ended when Ashby heard a noise outside and the victim told him it must be her housemate.”

“Before running away, he stole her jewellery and mobile phone.”

“DNA and fingerprint evidence taken from the victim by police, and found on a toothbrush and a vape at her home, would later be matched to Ashby, who was arrested by police two days after the attack.”

“The trial was due to take place throughout this week at Birmingham crown court, but it was cut short after Ashby unexpectedly pleaded guilty to all four counts on the second day, after he was confronted by a member of the public in court.”

“Sukhvinder Kaur, the chair of Sikh Women’s Aid, said it had never dealt with a case of racially aggravated rape before.”

“Sukhvinder Kaur said the UK had taken a “very worrying turn” in terms of its treatment of marginalised communities.”

“In the aftermath of the rape, the Guardian spoke to several women in Walsall who said they had changed their daily routines after a spate of religiously aggravated attacks on Sikhs at the end of last year.”

“Shaista Gohir, chair of the Muslim Women’s Network, said she was “deeply appalled” by the incident, adding: “This horrific case exemplifies the ways in which religious hatred is often racialised, with victims being targeted based on perceptions of their appearance, race, ethnicity or clothing.””

“The organisation called on the government to take urgent action to improve protections for minority ethnic women, saying the “cumulative impact of daily hostility, harmful rhetoric, and disinformation” was causing “significant anxiety and fear”.”