THE BROTHER of a 13-year-old girl sexually assaulted by an RAF Sergeant is furious he walked free from court.

RAF Sergeant Daniel Burt admitted touching the girl in a bed at RAF Benson in 2001.

He was given a 12-month jail term at Oxford Crown Court, suspended for two years eight days ago.

He must also pay £1,200 costs, take a sex offender group work programme and go on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

The brother of the victim – who cannot be named to protect his sister’s identity – said: “It’s a travesty, it’s a total miscarriage of justice.

“I was hoping for two or three years in jail. It would keep him where he should be so he can’t hurt anyone else.

“It was extremely upsetting. I used to have faith in the justice system, but I don’t have any now.”

The court last week heard how the 37-year-old took his victim and two other girls to the family club and bought the girls Bacardi Breezers.

The victim said she felt ill and was taken home to bed.

Nikki Duncan, prosecuting, said the girl had pretended to be asleep as Burt, who was drunk, entered the room and touched her under the covers.

Her older brother said: “The assault has affected my sister in ways I can’t describe. It led to years of counselling and therapy.

“She is absolutely appalled too. But we’re trying to look on the bright side in that it is some closure for her. But any abuse, be it mental, physical or sexual, cannot be tolerated.

“I can’t understand how someone can go to jail for calling someone else a name, or other minor crimes, and yet he is free to walk away.”

He added: “I’m just appalled that I feel this helpless.”

A family friend of Burt gave a character reference in court.

She said: “He has never been free of the burden of the guilt of what he has done. It has had a devastating effect upon him and his family, and he has at times been suicidally depressed, and has never been able to forgive himself for these acts.”

Burt is currently still employed by the RAF and is stationed at RAF Cosford in the West Midlands.

An MoD spokesman said: “Sergeant Burt’s future in the RAF is currently being considered.

“In accordance with Queen’s Regulations for the Royal Air Force, when a serving member of the Royal Air Force is sentenced by a civilian court in the UK to a custodial sentence, notwithstanding any appeal lodged against conviction, they will not, save in exceptional circumstances, be retained in the service.”