Dream killer husband told: sleep alone

A husband who walked free after strangling his wife during a nightmare revealed today he has been told by psychiatrists never to sleep with anyone again.

Brian Thomas, 59, of Neath, south Wales, was cleared last week of murdering wife Christine in his sleep as he dreamed that he was battling an intruder.

It was found he suffered from a long-standing sleeping disorder and could not be held responsible for his actions.

He told today's Sun newspaper: "The psychiatrists have told me I'm not to sleep with anybody in the future - it's frightening."

The father of two said he was also hoping to take some medication to combat his disorder.

"Apparently there's a drug you can get in America," he told the paper. "It's something I have got to see my doctor about."

Mr Thomas woke in July last year to find he had killed Christine, 57, while the couple slept in their camper van in a pub car park.

Prosecutors and defence both sides agreed he was suffering from his sleeping disorder at the time and had strangled his wife while in a state of automatism.

That meant that his mind had no control over what his body was doing.

Mr Justice Davis told him: "In the eyes of the law you bear no responsibility for what happened."

Mr Thomas said he has since been staying with his daughter Debbie, 40, and his wife's clothing and belongings remain where she left them in the house they shared.

"I don't know if I can move back in, but it's my home, our home, all the memories are there," he added.