Woman whose rape complaint was dismissed over sexsomnia claims wins £35k in compensation
A WOMAN whose rape complaint was dismissed over claims she had sexsomnia has won £35,000 compensation.
Jade Blue McCrossen-Nethercott, 32, woke half-naked after a night out with her broken necklace on the floor and the feeling she had been raped as she slept.
But charges against the suspect were dropped when the defence claimed she had experienced an episode of the rare disorder which causes a person to engage in sexual activity while asleep.
Jade, who has waived her right to anonymity, told BBC programme Sexsomnia? Case Closed that the decision to drop the case was more damaging to her than the alleged rape itself.
She had told police of being a deep sleeper and sleepwalking a few times as a teen.
And two sleep experts, neither of whom spoke to her, said they were unable to rule out the possibility of an isolated episode, despite her insisting she did not have sexsomnia.
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Jade sued the Crown Prosecution Service and has now received the payout.
She said: “It feels like a big triumph to hold them accountable.”
Her Centre for Women’s Justice lawyers said: “It’s testament to how severe the failing was.”
The CPS said it had apologised unreservedly to her.
