A DRUNKEN man has been jailed for sexually assaulting a teenage girl after climbing into a family's garden and getting into their jacuzzi uninvited.

Damien Bond of Attlee Road, Nantyglo, was jailed for 14 months at Newport Crown Court after previously pleading guilty to sexually assaulting the girl, who cannot be named, on July 9 last year.

The court heard the 28-year-old had climbed over a fence into a garden where a family was in a jacuzzi, got in and sexually assaulted the girl by touching her under her bikini bottoms with his foot.

Stephen Thomas, defending, described Bond, who works for a battery manufacturing firm in Ebbw Vale, as "a hard-working young man".

He added the incident was "impulsive drunken behaviour that was not particularly sustained".

"He is deeply remorseful and ashamed of what he has done," he said. "This is an incident of a drunken man who momentarily lost control."

But Recorder Richard Williams said he was unconvinced.

"I don't think remorse is a real issue here," he said. "It's more self-pity than remorse."

Passing sentence, Recorder Williams told Bond, in court on Thursday, he had "no sense of self control" and no respect for the victim's innocence.

"This has had a lasting effect on that young girl at a time when she should be growing in confidence and exploring the world," he said.

"She has instead become withdrawn, lacking confidence to develop relationships with her peers. You have taken that away from her."

Sitting in the public gallery, Bond's family wept as Recorder Williams handed him a 16-month jail sentence, reduced to 14 months as credit for his guilty plea.

He will also be required to sign the sexual offences register for 10 years from the date of the offence.