A married man ended up being sexually assaulted by a pub landlord while drunk, a court has heard.

The adult victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, and Duncan Lawton, 64, formerly of The Globe Inn pub, in Upwell, near Wisbech had both consumed significant amounts of alcohol.

Norwich Crown Court heard the victim who was "vulnerable through drink" ended up in the defendant's bed and "woke up from what seemed to be something of a trance" to find he was being sexually assaulted.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich Crown CourtNorwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Joanne Eley, prosecuting, read out impact statements on behalf of the victim and his family. 

The victim said after the offending "I would be better off dead" with his wife describing how it "broke my heart" to see how it affected him.

Lawton, formerly of the Globe Inn, Upwell, near Wisbech appeared at court for sentence last week having admitted sexual assault between February 27 and 28 last year.

Eastern Daily Press: Duncan LawtonDuncan Lawton (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Will Carter, mitigating, said Lawton was "a man of good character" and had "never been in trouble before".

He said character references put before the court told of their "shock and surprise" that he was in the situation he finds himself in at court.

Mr Carter said they spoke of the "positive things he's done" including the raising of money for charity.

He said Lawton's wife was seriously ill with a liver condition and he helped care for her.

Imposing a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, Recorder John Hardy said: "You, in drink, behaved in a way which was completely out of character and which was despicable."

But Recorder Hardy said he was entitled to some credit for his pleas and was a "carer for your seriously ill wife".

Lawton was also given 20 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) and ordered to pay £700 compensation.

He was also made the subject of a 10-year restraining order meaning he cannot contact the victim directly or indirectly and put on the sex offenders register, also for 10 years.

He was also put on the sex offenders register for 10 years.