Callum Ferbrache admitted a single charge of sexual assault by penetration when he appeared before the Royal Court.
He sobbed as Bailiff Sir Richard McMahon gave the court’s decision.
Sir Richard said this was a most serious offence and only marginally less serious than that of rape.
The defendant got credit for pleading guilty at the first opportunity but there had to be an element of deterrent in the sentence.
Jailing Ferbrache for two-and-a-half years, he said this had been a breach of trust as the offence had been committed in the woman’s home where she had a right to feel safe.
The excessive amount of alcohol he had consumed was an aggravating factor, and the victim was a vulnerable person.
Prosecuting Advocate Liam Roffey told court how the defendant and the victim knew each other but had never been in a relationship.
In June this year the two, along with another man, had been drinking in a Town pub before they returned to the victim’s home. In the early hours she found Ferbrache in her bedroom. He was lying on the floor in the foetal position, unable to pull up his jeans, having wet himself.
She let him borrow some jogging bottoms to change into and at that point he committed the offence, putting his hand inside her jeans and underwear.
She punched him in the face in response and pushed him out of the room.
The following day Ferbrache apologised and said he needed to stop drinking. The woman went to the police later that week.
After Ferbrache was arrested he exercised his right to silence in interview.
The court was told that he had been jailed for dangerous driving in 2018 but had no other relevant matters on his record.
Defending, Advocate Samuel Steel said his client had entered a guilty plea despite not recalling the offence, sparing the woman from having to give evidence.
‘In his own words he said that what he did was wrong, horrible and disgusting and he wishes to issue an unreserved apology to the victim and former friend,’ said counsel.
‘He had been a guest in her own her home where she should have been safe.’
His client understood the consequence of alcohol misuse and said he would never drink again, he added.
He had complied with a bail condition not to drink alcohol.
Advocate Steel said his client had already been punished of sorts, losing friends and his job.
Ferbrache was also made subject to notification requirements for five years.
