Man who had sex while asleep cleared of raping student

A man was found innocent of raping a teenage girl yesterday after a jury was told that he suffered from "sexsomnia".

A sleep consultant confirmed to Swansea Crown Court that Stephen Lee Davies, a 43-year-old from Pembroke Dock in west Wales, was most likely telling the truth when he said that he was unable to prevent himself having sex during his sleep before waking up oblivious to what had happened.

Davies had been accused of raping a 16-year-old college student who stayed overnight at his home in 2009 and had crept into his bed while he was asleep because it was cooler.

She claimed that she awoke later while Davies was having sex with her and called her a "horny bitch".

His argument was backed up by his wife and a former girlfriend, who attested to similar events happening during their relationships with him, while Dr Chris Idzikowski, head of Edinburgh Sleep School, said: "Sexsomnia is instinctive behaviour, they are not conscious at the time."

- Independent