Man who assaulted woman 200 times claims he is suffering from sexsomnia

Even as awareness about the need to address women’s safety increases, shocking crimes against women from all parts of the world are reported at an alarming rate. While the world discusses how to bring change in mindset prevalent in society to prevent such appalling incidents, some cases are bringing something more to the conversation.

In a disturbing case of sexual abuse, a man accused of assaulting a woman 200 times claimed that a condition called sexsomnia made him do it. 35-year-old Lawrence Barilli assaulted the woman on several occasions between September 2011 and October 2012.

When she confronted him, Lawrence told the woman that his condition was making him assault her in his sleep. The woman met him after breaking up with a long term partner and first thought that it was something Lawrence did to spice up the relationship.

While the woman did tell Lawrence that she didn’t like it, he just said it was the condition that made him do it. Barilli is also accused of assaulting and raping another woman between 2008 and 2010.

Therapists have described sexsomnia as a disorder which causes people to engage in sexual behaviour while they are asleep. People suffering from the condition also called sleep sex reportedly have no recollection of having sex the next morning.