“Following expert evidence from a psychiatrist it was suggested no useful purpose would be served by Mr Thomas being detained and treated in a psychiatric hospital, which would be the consequence of a special verdict in this case.

“It is now clear that the psychiatrists feel the risk of recurrence is very, very small. We therefore have offered no further evidence and asked the jury to return a simple verdict of not guilty.”

He added: “It is only because of highly sophisticated tests carried out by sleep experts that Mr Thomas’s condition could be confirmed.