A man accused of raping a 16-year-old girl told police he was innocent because he could not stop himself from having sex while asleep, a report has said
According to the Daily Mail, Briton Stephen Davies, 43, said he had suffered from sexsomnia for years.
Two of his former partners also told of how they were by Davies in the middle of the night.
The following morning Davies would have no memory of what had happened, a jury heard.
Prosecutor Jim Davis reportedly told Swansea Crown Court that in 2009 a college student had taken ill and during the early hours went to sleep on Davies’ bed because his room was cooler.
She testified how she went to sleep on her side and woke in the middle of the night to feel Davies having sexual intercourse with her from behind.
She alleged he called her a “horny b***h”.
The following day she received SMSes from Davies in which he asked if anything had happened.
Davies was arrested and told police he woke up with an erection and wondered what the teenager was doing in his bed.
Asked if he had had sex with her he replied: “Not that I know of.”
Davis said: “She was scared and crying. He turned her on her side and had sex with her.”
The prosecutor added it was significant that Davies appeared to have gone downstairs and boiled a kettle after having sex.
According to the complainant, he returned and sexually assaulted her again.
Davis said that indicated he was awake and knew what he was doing.
However, Davies, who said he always slept naked, said that he was a deep sleeper and that his partners would confirm that sometimes they would have to tell him what he had done during the night.
One said she could have entire conversations with him, as well as full sexual intercourse, without him waking up.
Usually, she said, it happened when Davies was sleeping on his side. “He would poke me in the back with his erect penis and intercourse would follow,” she added.
Dyfed Thomas, defending, said Davies’ former wife, Angela, would confirm similar incidents during their marriage.
Sleep disorders expert Dr Chris Idzikowski told the court that sexsomnia fell into the category of sleepwalking, which affected about four percent of adults.
Sexsomnia affected far fewer people, but partly because they were less likely to go to their doctor and complain.
“A lot of people don't report sexsomnia but we are recognising it more and more.
“It affects mainly men who are deep sleepers. It can involve almost any sort of sexual activity and could go on for 20 or 30 minutes.
“It is extremely unlikely they will have any memory because amnesia is associated with the condition. Less than one per cent might remember something. It tends to affect middle aged and older men.
“Sexsomnia is instinctive behaviour, they are not conscious at the time.”
Idzikowski reportedly said he had studied all the evidence in the case and listened to witnesses and concluded that Davies suffered from the condition.
Davis said a question for the jury might be whether Davies had been suffering an episode of sexsomnia in the early hours of September 7 or just taking advantage.
The trial continues. - IOL