A soldier was facing jail and dismissal from the Army yesterday after he was convicted of a barrack room sex attack on a male comrade.

A soldier was facing jail and dismissal from the Army yesterday after he was convicted of a barrack room sex attack on a male comrade.

Josefata Tavai pulled his 24-year-old victim's t-shirt over his head and pulled down his trousers during the indecent assault at a toilet at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh.

Tavai, 30, had taken part in a drinking session before attacking his fellow soldier who told a court he was too drunk to defend himself.

The Fijian national had denied the sex attack at the barracks on June 15 in 2006 during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, but was found guilty by a majority of the jury. After the verdict advocate depute Derek Ogg QC revealed that Tavai, of the 9 Regiment Army Air Corps, based at Dishforth, Yorkshire, had previously stood trial on sexual assault charges against three males in the military in England, but was acquitted.

Temporary judge Roger Craik QC told Tavai: "I have to tell you that given the nature of the conviction a sentence of imprisonment is inevitable."

Earlier Tavai's victim told the court the attack had left him "shocked, emotional and angry". He added: "I kept on saying I'll kill him. I have just been raped.' I was in agony."

Sentence was deferred on Tavai for the preparation of a background report.