‘Sexomnia’ defense fails as confessed British sexual abuser learns his fate

Content warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse. Please take care while reading.

Dean Final, a 32-year-old man from Leicester, England, has been sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison after admitting to a series of serious sexual offenses. The high-profile case gained attention after Final attempted to invoke “sexomnia”, a rare and controversial sleep disorder, as part of his defense.

What is sexomnia?

Sexomnia is classified as a type of parasomnia, a sleep disorder in which people may engage in sexual behaviors while asleep, often with no memory of the incident. In rare legal cases, defendants argue non-insane automatism, meaning their actions occurred without conscious control.

However, the broader scientific and legal communities remain skeptical. Experts warn that the defense can be misused to evade accountability for certain crimes, especially in the absence of medical evidence.

Final’s sexomnia claim was rejected

Final’s claim of sexomnia was quickly dismissed. Prosecutors challenged it early in the process, providing expert testimony from sleep specialists and pointing out that Final had no medical history of sleep disorders, nor had he undergone any clinical testing.

One victim reported that Final’s eyes were closed during an assault. Prosecutors, however, noted that Final’s deliberate behaviors, such as moving rooms and retrieving objects, clearly indicated conscious intent. Without medical documentation, the court rejected the defense outright.

What were Final’s crimes?

According to England’s Crown Prosecution Service, on August 5, 2025, Final pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, controlling or coercive behavior, assault, non-fatal strangulation, criminal damage, and other offenses involving the abuse of two former partners in Leicester and Lancashire.

Final confessed to abusing two ex-partners. In the Leicester case, he assaulted a woman in February 2024 after their relationship deteriorated due to his controlling behaviors. Reportedly, he kept her from her phone and keys, secretly installed cameras, and constantly accused her of cheating.

After Final’s assault, she escaped and went to the police. In Lancashire, Final abused another former partner and was convicted of assault, coercive behavior, non-fatal strangulation, and animal cruelty.

The Crown Prosecution Service stated that sexomnia defenses without verified clinical evidence are often attempts to avoid responsibility. Final was described as a “violent, manipulative, and controlling individual.” Prosecutors praised the courage of the survivors, whose testimony and cooperation helped bring the case to a swift and just conclusion.

If you know someone suffering from sexual violence, contact RAINN or the National Sexual Abuse Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673