'Sexsomniac' cleared of raping girl at Butlins holiday camp
A man has been cleared of raping a 21-year-old girl at a Butlins holiday camp - because he suffers with a sleep disorder known as sexsomnia.
Andrew Machin, 40, from Warsop in Nottinghamshire, met the girl at Butlins in Skegness, Lincolnshire, on 27 February 2010, reports the Daily Mail.
They had both been at an 80s-themed disco night when the woman reportedly became so drunk she could not stand up.
Machin, who knew some of the girls in her group of friends, helped walk her back to her chalet.
A friend undressed her and left her with Machin, agreeing that he should stay with her in case she became ill.
But the woman said she later woke up in the night, to find him having sex with her, reports the Express.
Mr Machin is only the second person in Britain to be cleared of rape because of sexsomnia.
The Daily Mail reports that the woman, who has not been named for legal reasons, said: "I was still drunk. I started to panic when I realised what was happening. I couldn't think properly. I put my hands up and shouted to him to stop. I was shaking."
According to the Mirror, Mr Machin said: "I am sorry for the hurt caused by circumstances beyond my control.
"There has always been two victims in this case. I am glad that the right decision has been made and now I can get on with my life.
"It has been a nightmare."
According to ninemsn.com, Mr Machin added: "I feel disgusted. I just wanted to go to sleep. I didn't know where I was when I woke up ... I didn't want to hurt her."
He told Lincoln Crown Court that he had suffered with sleep problems for more than 25 years, and his partner, Denise Jacks, 38, told the jury he had had sex with her before while sleeping, adding: "He just can't help it."
Machin's sister, Kathy Pickering, told the jury she also suffered with sexsomnia.
It took the jury three days to decide that Mr Machin was not guilty of rape.
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