A lorry driver who climbed into bed with a young girl and kissed her on the lips has been cleared of sexual assault after experts said he was sleepwalking at the time.

Alan Ball, 35, had fallen asleep on a sofa after drinking heavily at a house party, but during the course of the night he tried to get into bed with the girl who was sleeping upstairs.

He was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting her, however after experts examined his history of sleepwalking they concluded he had not known what he was doing, and he was cleared by a judge.

Today Mr Ball, who has a five-year-old daughter himself, said the year-long ordeal had destroyed his life and told of his relief at being absolved of blame.

'I knew I was innocent, but not a day went by when it went through my head: 'What if I end up in jail for something I have not done?"' he said.

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