Father-of-four Lawrence Sabatini, 38, ventured down to the living-room, where the teen was sleeping with another young girl and groped her bum and between her legs.
When confronted he angrily barked: “Can you f***? You’re just lesbians, f*** you lesbians.”
Sabatini, of Thiepval Drive, Bulford, Wiltshire, was a subject of the ‘Tribute Ink’ exhibition, due to his multiple tattoos commemorating the service of Commonwealth servicemen and women.
He fought the charge, claiming his alcohol intake resulted in loss of control of his actions, but this was rejected by the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury, which convicted him of sexual assault.
Sabatini and his wife were guests at the Hounslow house party on August 8, 2021 and were expected to share an upstairs bedroom.
“You drank heavily at that party and knew at the time you were sleep-deprived after a Wiltshire military exercise, but consumed beer and several litres of vodka,” Judge Marcus Tregilgas-Davey told him yesterday.
The victim, who attended the sentencing with relatives, told the trial: “I was on a blow-up bed and he came in and laid there and then started going down by my bed.
“I thought he was drunk and so I moved, but he moved and started touching my bum and tried to go through my legs.
“He grabbed my bum and tried to pull me closer and was scooping me by my bum.”
The girls left the living-room due to Sabatini’s creepy behaviour and when the second teen persuaded the victim to return he verbally abused both of them.
“Wisely the two girls left the room distressed and sought comfort elsewhere,” added Judge Tregilgas-Davey. “In the morning you said you had no recollection of the incident.”
Prosecutor Michael Hillman said: “There is no victim impact statement, but she was in tears when I spoke to her this morning.
“She has been effected by this offending and is much less social and not going out as much.”
Sabatini’s lawyer Ailsa Williamson told the court: “The defendant has not drank alcohol since this incident three years ago and has been seeking treatment for his PTSD.
“He has been recently medically discharged and received a lump sum and now he and his family will be moving out of military accommodation.”
Judge Tregilgas-Davey announced: “I accept this incident has had a not insignificant impact on her and it is deeply upsetting as a young woman should be enjoying life and going out socialising.
‘It struck me during the trial that she was very brave coming forward with the complaint. She showed a great deal of fortitude.”
First-time offender Sabatini received a twelve-month community order, which includes 200 hours community service work and thirty days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.
He must also sign the sex offenders register and pay £4,000 costs.
Sabatini joined the Army in 2005, becoming an elite Paratrooper before transferring to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, where he was a Staff Corporal - the equivalent rank to Staff Sergeant.
He served two tours of Afghanistan, where he regularly operated behind enemy lines as part of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force.
Before his second tour of Afghanistan South African-born Sabatini’s left arm was ‘sleeved’ with tributes to fallen Commonwealth soldiers.
“Some people are not good with words. Tattoos are a way of expressing something important to you without having to speak,” Sabatini told the ‘Tribute Ink’ touring exhibition.
“People might spot your tattoo, but never ask you about it, but if they do it is a way to start that conversation about its meaning.
“To some people they are just tattoos, but for me it will always be more than that. It is a good way of expressing yourself.
“Getting my sleeve before I headed back out to Afghanistan allowed me to get in the mindset and to set the tone for the forthcoming deployment.
“My favourite piece within my tattoo are the poppies. These were the first thing I got.
“They represent the respect for the fallen. There is no greater sacrifice than being prepared to die for your country and it commemorates the ultimate sacrifice.”
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