A man who sexually assaulted a woman while she slept has been sentenced to nine years in prison, despite his bizarre claim that he was sleepwalking during the attack.
The 38-year-old offender, whose identity has been withheld for legal reasons, was convicted at Southwark Crown Court after what the judge described as a 'grotesque' attempt to evade responsibility.
'Implausible' Defence Dismissed
During the trial, the defendant argued that he had no memory of the assault because he was in a state of parasomnia - a sleep disorder that can include sleepwalking. However, medical experts testified that such behaviour during parasomnia would be extremely rare in adults.
Judge Sarah Munro QC delivered a scathing assessment of the defence, stating: 'The suggestion that you were sleepwalking during this prolonged and deliberate attack is utterly implausible. This was a grotesque attempt to avoid taking responsibility for your actions.'
Victim's Trauma Revealed
The court heard how the victim woke during the assault and immediately confronted her attacker. In a powerful victim impact statement, she described how the incident had left her suffering from severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
'I no longer feel safe in my own home,' she told the court. 'What should have been my sanctuary became a place of terror.'
Sentencing and Aftermath
In addition to the prison sentence, the offender was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and given a lifetime restraining order preventing contact with the victim.
Detective Inspector Mark Azariah, who led the investigation, praised the victim's courage: 'This case demonstrates how seriously the courts treat sexual offences, regardless of the outlandish defences perpetrators might attempt.'
The Metropolitan Police has urged other victims of sexual assault to come forward, emphasising that specialist support is available.
