THE decorated career of a Gulf War hero is in ruins after he was jailed for sex offences against a schoolgirl.

RAF senior aircraftman Steven Oliver, 33, was left suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder following the 1991 conflict.

But the career of the Middlesbrough-born serviceman is in tatters after he was jailed for 18 months and ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years.

Married Oliver was stationed at the RAF's elite training college at Cranwell, Lincolnshire, when he asked the 12-year-old girl back to his base.

Lincoln Crown Court heard he locked the door and began playing strip blackjack with the youngster, who ended the game naked.

Oliver then took off his own clothes and began touching and kissing the girl, telling her: "It helps me relax."

Stephen Lowne, prosecuting, said Oliver warned the girl not to tell anyone about the incident but she confided in her mother.

Oliver, of Sycamore Drive, Cranwell, admitted charges of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and indecent touching on February 26.

He must now face an RAF Board of Officers.

The court was told Oliver, who worked as a ground crew member, had enjoyed 15 years of distinguished service with the RAF before the incident.

Catarina Sjolin, mitigating, said Oliver had earned the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the First Gulf War Medal and further decorations from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. She said Oliver could return to his home town of Middlesbrough, to live with his parents, if spared a jail-term.

But Judge John Machin told him: "You must understand that what you did was appalling and demands an immediate sentence of imprisonment.