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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 anal sex 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.

'Even when I went round to friends' houses where there were young kids, you wonder whether it goes through their minds.

'Were people looking at me in the swimming baths and thinking: 'Is he looking at my daughter?'"

Mr Ball was arrested following the New Year's Eve house party 12 months ago after he was accused of getting into bed with the girl, who was aged under 13, and kissing her on the lips.

When interviewed, he insisted he had no memory of what had happened, but he was charged with sexual assault.

However, a hearing at Preston Crown Court last week was told his history of sleepwalking meant the allegation was being dropped.