A 22-YEAR-OLD Mackay man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his housemate while she was sleeping in her bedroom.

Crown prosecutor Gavin Webber said in the District Court in Mackay yesterday that the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been at a bar with the woman and her friend on the night of February 17, 2015.

The man and the complainant, who had only been living in the same house for about five days, walked home together at 2am.

Mr Webb said the woman went to bed and the man sent her several messages, which she didn't respond to.

An hour later, the woman woke up to find the man touching her inappropriately.

She pushed him away, reached for her phone and shone light in his eyes.

In an interview with police, the man said he had drunk 10 rum and Cokes and "it was a bit fuzzy from there".

Mr Webb said the man told police that when the woman shone a light in his face he'd "felt quite ashamed" and walked out.

He messaged the woman the following day to apologise.

Defence barrister Stephen Byrne said the man had had no father figure growing up, as his dad had been in prison since he was two years old.

He said the man worked full-time for a government department and had recently started a relationship with a 21-year-old woman.

Judge Paul Smith said the assault had been opportunistic, but was serious as the woman had been asleep. He sentenced the man to eight months in prison.

The sentence was wholly suspended for 12 months.