Man accused of repeatedly raping partner in his sleep says he is 'sexsomniac' unaware of his actions

Lawrence Barilli, 35, argues condition confirmed by GP 'made him do it' during Glasgow High Court trial

Lawrence Barilli at the High Court Glasgow (Iain McLellan/Spindrift)

A man accused of raping his partner in bed claimed he was suffering from “sexsomnia”.

Lawrence Barilli is said to have stated to the woman the condition “made him do it”.

His alleged victim told jurors that such incidents occurred “a couple of hundred times” during their relationship.

But Barilli insisted he had “no memory” of what happened.

The evidence was heard yesterday at the trial of the 35-year-old at the High Court in Glasgow.

Barilli is charged with assaulting and raping the woman between September 2011 and October 2012.

The incidents are said to have occurred in a number of locations including Glasgow's Shettleston and Uddingston, South Lanarkshire.

The woman – also 35 – started dating Barilli after the break-up of a previous long term relationship.

Prosecutor Peter Ferguson QC asked was there anything “sexual” that caused her “upset”.

She said the first incident happened months after they had been together.

She recalled: “I would wake up with him having sex with me.

“I did not really not know what to think. I thought it was something that he was trying to spice up the relationship.

“It was silent throughout... I did not like it.”

The woman said it was the next morning she confronted Barilli.

She told the trial: “I basically asked him what last night was about. He said: 'what are you talking about?'.

“I said having sex through the night – but he said he had no memory of it.”

The woman claimed when it happened again she felt she was not able to “stop him”.

Jurors heard Barilli later said he had been “diagnosed with a condition that makes him do that”.

The woman explained: “He said it was sexsomnia.”

Mr Ferguson asked her: “Did he suggest if he had been diagnosed by a qualified person?”

The witness: “Yes – his GP.”

The advocate depute went on: “Did you accept what he said?”

The woman: “I told him that I had never heard of it, but I looked it up online.

“He just said: 'Well, I have got it'.”

She claimed to being “upset” at what happened to her adding it took place “a couple of hundred times”.

Mr Ferguson: “Was he aware that you did not like him doing it?”

The woman: “Yes – I would tell him in the morning.”

The prosecutor: “But, his reaction was that he was not aware he was doing it?”

The witness: “Yes.”

Barilli's QC Tony Graham later asked the woman had she ever considered “banning” her then partner from her bedroom.

However, she said she had not.

Mr Graham later put to her that any “sexual encounter” was always with the woman's “consent”.

The woman replied: “No.”

Barilli, of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, is further accused of assaulting and raping another partner between 2008 and 2010.

He denies the allegations and the trial, before Judge Craig Scott QC, continues.

Glasgow Court Press Agency