A FORMER serviceman is facing an “inevitable” prison sentence after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a child.

A jury took little over an hour to convict Raymond Armstrong on what a judge later described as “compelling evidence”.

Armstrong from North Yorkshire, was remanded in custody after the verdict and will be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court next month.

The 59-year-old denied any sexual wrongdoing with the child, and said if his arm had brushed past intimate parts, it would have been unintentional.

A 20-minute recording of an interview the child gave to police was played to the jury of six men and six women during the three-day trial.

Judge Stephen Ashurst adjourned the case until May 10 so a pre-sentence report can be prepared on Armstrong by a probation officer.

He told the former Army driver: “These cases are sometimes best dealt with after some pause for reflection, particularly on your part.

“The guidelines make it clear that the starting point for (these) offences is a custodial sentence.

“I will leave options open, but you must, I’m afraid, prepare yourself for a custodial sentence.

“A good deal of heartache has been caused and I don’t penalise you for pleading not guilty, but the jury saw some very compelling evidence in that interview, therefore, you had a choice.

“Given the likely sentence in this case, it would be holding out false hope for you to grant you bail until you are sentenced.”

Armstrong, of Elder Road, Northallerton, denied two charges of sexual assault of a child.

His barrister Kristian Cavanagh had said to Judge Ashurst: “Custody is inevitable in this case given the age of the complainant, but I do ask for bail in the interim."

He added: “You are aware he is a man with significant health problems. They may well be easier to address while the defendant is on bail.

“He has a settled address and is a man of good character with no previous convictions.”