A man, 62, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for repeatedly raping his wife, claiming he was sleepwalking during the assaults. The court was informed that he might have been affected by sexsomnia, a condition leading individuals to engage in sexual acts while asleep. However, a jury at Truro Crown Court disregarded this defense and found him guilty of multiple counts of rape and attempted rape against his spouse of 18 years.
The victim shared her harrowing experiences, expressing fear and disgust over the repeated abuse. She detailed how her husband sexually assaulted her monthly over a decade, causing her immense distress. Despite his claims of not being aware of his actions, the prosecution asserted that the wife did not consent to the assaults and repeatedly urged him to seek medical help.
The woman described a shift in her husband’s behavior following the birth of their first child, leading to a decade of abuse and intimidation where she felt trapped due to threats of losing access to their children if she left. Despite the defendant’s assertion that he did not consciously recall the assaults, the court heard testimonies of his wife waking up to him committing the acts.
The man, with no prior criminal record, maintained that sex was not a significant aspect of their relationship. Expert testimony highlighted the rarity of violence in cases of sexsomnia. The jury convicted him of multiple charges, including rape and attempted rape, spanning from 2006 to 2017. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and registered as a sex offender for life.