AN RAF serviceman shook uncontrollably as he was jailed for three years yesterday for sexually assaulting a woman at Brize Norton.

David Clays sobbed throughout his sentencing at Oxford Crown Court after a jury convicted him following a five-day trial in February.

The court heard the father-of-two, who will now have to sign the sex offenders register for life, was expected to be dishonestly discharged from the RAF.

Sentencing, Judge Patrick Eccles said Clays, who served in the RAF for eight years, assaulted a "vulnerable" woman who had drunk too much in the hours before the incident in September 2014.

He added: "You caused considerable emotional distress to her and a degree of psychological damage. What's sad is that she actually feels guilty for putting you in the position that you are rightly in."

Prosecutor Barry McElduff told the court Clays' victim said the assault had impacted how she dressed and she now felt "unguarded" in the company of men.

He also revealed Clays, 34, was convicted of a string of sexual assaults against five victims in their teens to early forties at Liverpool Crown Court in 1997 when he was 15.

Mr McElduff said Clays had targeted women and girls walking alone in a particular area of Liverpool and was sentenced to two years in detention.

Defence barrister Claire Fraser said Clays' marriage to his wife of 18 years, who lived in Liverpool while he was stationed at RAF Brize Norton, ended after his arrest and he had suffered with anxiety, depression and insomnia since.

Ms Fraser added: "He does not accept full responsibility for the offence. He stands by the position he had at trial but he does accept the finding of the court."

During the trial, the court heard Clays and his victim had been out drinking before he walked her back to a room at RAF Brize Norton which she shared with her fiancé.

Clays denied he sexually assaulted her in the room, telling police she came on to him while they were out and tried to kiss him when they returned to the base.

Ms Fraser told jurors the pair had been flirting in the weeks leading up to the incident, and the woman had sent Clays Snapchat pictures which he described as "sexy".

A jury of eight women and four men found him guilty of one count of sexual assault by a majority of 11 to one but returned a not guilty verdict for a second count of sexual assault.