A FORMER soldier who had an exemplary army record is awaiting sentence after sexually assaulting a woman.

Nigel Bernard Gill appeared before Selby Magistrates’ Court yesterday facing a charge of sexual assault on the woman at his Kellington home.

The court heard the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had visited Gill’s Manor Garth home on February 3 when the assault took place.

Steve Ovenden, prosecuting, said Gill, 33, had pushed the woman on to the bed and pinned her down using his body weight and then assaulted her.

The woman managed to push Gill off and then left the house, the court heard.

She told her mother what had happened and called the police who arrested Gill later that evening.

Gill admitted his actions in police interviews, and Chris McGrogan, mitigating, told the court he had “no explanation as to why this had happened”.

Mr McGrogan said Gill had an “exemplary army record for a number of years”, but had to leave and was unable to work due to a back problem.

He said this was one of a number of underlying issues, which left Gill frustrated, but he was “extremely remorseful” about his actions.

Gill pleaded guilty to the charge.

Magistrates adjourned the case to allow the probation service to complete a pre-sentence report, with recommendations which could include a custodial sentence.

Gill was released on bail and is set to appear before the court for sentencing on March 21.