A DRUNKEN former soldier who groped a woman at a music bar has walked free from court.

Sairusi Tuvotu was "reeling around" and sexually assaulted the victim as he staggered towards the toilets.

The 36-year-old Fijian was on bail for exposing himself in a different pub when the offence was committed in June last year.

Tuvotu was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and put on the sex offenders' register for seven years.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, at Teesside Crown Court, also ordered him to carry out 20 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement with probation staff to tackle his excessive alcohol intake.

The court heard that both offences - he was given a community order by magistrates for the exposure last year - were carried out while he was drunk.

Other crimes on his record, some of which were dealt with at a court martial, include burglary, battery and affray.

Judge Bourne-Arton heard how Tuvotu's career in the armed forces was cut short by illness, and he started drinking heavily.

The married father had served in war zones, the court was told, and his barrister Simon Perkins said he had followed "a proud tradition" of people from his homeland coming to the UK to serve in the army.

Mr Perkins told the judge that there was little he could say in mitigation about the offence, after Tuvotu as found guilty of sexual assault after a trial.

In an impact statement, the victim spoke of needing to have counselling and said she felt "completely violated" by the incident in The Cavern Bar in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

The woman said she has been withdrawn, reluctant to go out socially and avoiding events she would enjoyed in the past.

She described having nightmares, and crying out in her sleep as well as suffering from headaches and anxiety.

Judge Bourne-Arton told Tuvotu, of Coronation Place, Richmond: "I have seen your conduct in the bar that night from CCTV. You were hopelessly drunk, and you were stumbling about, and while you were stumbling about, you committed this offence.

"Despite what you told the jury and the probation officer, it was deliberate."

He added: "You are someone who has served this country well in the army. It is only a tragedy of your illness that prevented you from carrying on, and I have taken that on board."