Woman's rape case thrown out after 'ridiculous' claim she had sexsomnia

Published date13 October 2022
Publication titleBirmingham Mail: Web Edition Articles (England)
Harrowingly, she woke up half naked -with a disturbed feeling something was wrong. When she confronted a partygoer in the same room, he told her: "Oh, I thought you were awake"

He then fled, she said. After medical examinations, the partygoer and reveller was arrested by police -but heartbreakingly, he never stood trial.

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Jade was accused by experts for the defence of having "sexsomnia". Jade told the Daily Mail : "I was completely blindsided. I’d never even heard of sexsomnia and was completely thrown by it. I was shellshocked because it was such a baffling concept, but also angry and frustrated because it felt so wrong.

"I believe I was raped and slept through the assault. I’ve wondered if I could have been given a date rape drug, but no blood tests were taken, so I will never know. The CPS told me that they believed me and they thought a jury would believe me; however, a jury would also believe a sleep specialist, so it would be an acquittal anyway, and they didn’t want to put me through a trial."

She added: "Up until that point everything had been straightforward, then I was thrown into this madness. I felt these blasé, throwaway comments I’d made to the police about being a deep sleeper were blown up into something quite ridiculous. At the very least these experts’ opinions should have been challenged in court because I believe all the other evidence was strong enough to secure a conviction."

Jade has no history of adult sleepwalking, and no instances of sexsomnia with previous partners. Jade added: "Today, I don’t carry shame or guilt with me. I know it wasn’t my fault, but at the time you do have that feeling of self-blame. You think: 'What could I have done differently' or...

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