A former soldier sexually assaulted a young woman at her 21st birthday party, a court heard yesterday.

Richard Norbury, 27, groped the woman after she got drunk at the house party in Bradford, but he told police he had no memory of what happened.

Prosecutor Ian Birkby told Bradford Crown Court the complainant had been out to celebrate her birthday and then had a house party.

The court heard that a lot of alcohol was consumed and at 4am a friend helped the woman to bed.

Mr Birkby said she woke in the night and realised someone was in the room. The duvet was pulled back. She pretended to be asleep but Norbury sexually assaulted her. She pushed him and he fell on the floor. The incident lasted between ten and 15 minutes.

After the incident he kissed her and apologised.

Norbury, of Telford, Shropshire, pleaded guilty to sexual assault. He was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, with 12 months supervision and 200 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for ten years and pay a £100 victims’ surcharge.