A Territorial Army chef who volunteered to fight in Iraq faces years behind bars for molesting a colleague.

A judge warned Lance Corporal Stephen Jukes he could be jailed for at least four years after he sexually assaulted a female soldier.

He allowed Jukes bail until he is sentenced “as an act of mercy” for a young man who has served his country.

Jukes, 26, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a colleague after his victim got drunk at his squadron's Christmas party at its barracks in Seaside, Eastbourne.

But a jury at Hove Crown Court unanimously cleared him of orally raping her after a four day trial.

They were told that Jukes, of Hengist Close, Eastbourne, assaulted her after she got drunk at the party in December 2007.

She was taken to female quarters set up for the night in the barracks where Jukes and a woman soldier took turns to watch over her.

The victim, who cannot be named, said Jukes sexually assaulted her as she lay on a camp bed.

She added: “I was in and out of consciousness. My jeans were around my knees and I could not do anything.”

The court heard that the assault took place just nine days after Jukes' wife had given birth to their daughter.

Jukes joined the TA as a signaller in 2002 to help him meet people after moving to Eastbourne from London.

He did not make the grade as a signaller because he is dyslexic and could not type quickly enough.

Instead he became a chef and signed up for a six month tour of duty in Iraq in 2005.

Jukes said he was based in Basra and came under fire after volunteering to go out on patrol when he was not on duty as a chef.

The court heard that he may be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder as a result.

He has also recently been diagnosed as suffering from Crohn's disease, an incurable bowel condition.

Judge Anthony Niblett said: “You are married with a young child and in a moment of drink-fuelled madness you committed this very serious offence.

“There is only one sentence and that is one of prison for a number of years.

“But as an act of mercy, pending the preparation of pre-sentence reports, and to reflect the credit I believe is due to a young man who has served his country in Iraq I will allow you bail.”

Jukes will be sentenced on May 22.