Female soldier, 21, who followed colleague into loo, pinned her against wall and sexually assaulted her avoids jail
A FEMALE soldier who followed her colleague into a toilet and sexually assaulted her has avoided jail.
Airtrooper Olivia Nelson overpowered the victim and groped her in repeated attacks.
The 21-year-old followed her into a toilet on a night out and pinned her against a wall during one horrifying sex attack.
She then groped and tried to kiss the colleague as the victim begged Nelson to “get off her”.
In another attack, Nelson struck at Middle Wallop Army Barracks in Hampshire where the victim was in her bed.
The drunk soldier – then aged 19 – pulled back the woman’s covers and repeatedly tried to kiss her.
When she tried to walk away to a shower area, Nelson pinned her against the wall by her throat and again attempted to kiss her.
Nelson was was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault and one of attempting to assault by penetration but avoided jail.
She was instead handed a 21 month sentence, suspended for two years, at Winchester Crown Court.
In a harrowing victim impact statement, the victim told how she will be “forever scarred” by the ordeal.
She added: “I don’t even know where to start about expressing how many feeling I have felt, and the trauma you have made me go through.
“What you did to me, how it made me feel so weak and that you were stronger than me – I tried pushing you away.
“I can truly not get over, or understand, why you did this to me.
“What did I do to deserve this? It takes everything in me not to break down when I think about what you did.
“What you did will forever scar my mind.”
As well as a jail sentence, Nelson was ordered to complete 50 rehabilitation activity days and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.
Judge Nicholas Haggan said: “Your relatively young age at the time you committed these offences is a factor I must take into account.
“You have lost not only your good character, but also your career in the army.
“For you, I suppose that the loss of your career will serve as a greater punishment.
“I do not underestimate that impact that will have on you, and will continue to have on you in the future.”