Twenty-six-year old Mikael Halvarsson was acquitted of rape after a Swedish court was convinced that he suffers from sexsomania.

Sexsomania is a condition in which an individual engages in sexual activities while sleeping.

The diagnosis for the said condition is Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) arousal parasomnia and individuals who suffer from the condition do not remember the sexual acts they perform in their sleep.

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Sexsomania can also occur in people who suffer from other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, night terrors, sleepwalking and bedwetting. Like other sleep disorders, the condition can be triggered by an excessive consumption of drugs and alcohol, stress or sleep deprivation.

Currently, the first line of defense against the occurence of the condition is the sedative and muscle relaxant Clonazepam. The drug is commonly used to treat epilepsy and panic disorders.

In the case of Halvarsson, the 26-year old defendant sexually assaulted a woman who was sleeping beside him. He was also asleep at that time.

According to the court, Halvarsson "was in a state of sleepiness, unconcious of what was happening."

His former girlfriend testified in his defense in court, sharing that he also tried to have sex with her at night while he was asleep.

Although Halvarsson was found innocent, the condition continues to be highly controversial amongst physicians and those practicing law. The doctor who testified that Halvarsson seemed to be suffering from sexsomania said that the condition isn't the fault of the accused, much like how sleepwalkers can't help walking around at night in their sleep.

Sexsomania has been used as a defense in the past, but has only been accepted in a few cases.

A 38-year old man was also acquitted of rape in 2007 due to sexsomania, while a man who was convicted previously of rape was found not guilty in 2011 after a second allegation arose.