A man with narcolepsy managed to buy £79 in toiletries on a shopping trip – despite being fast asleep at the time.
Mark Doyle, who suffers from the rare brain disorder that means patients can fall asleep at any time, tried to return the goods he bought on another sleep walk – but ended up spending another £80 without knowing.
The 46-year-old from Neilston in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, looked wide awake when he left his home and set off for the nearby town of Barrhead two weeks ago.
But he wasn’t actually conscious and ended up sleep walking to the town centre where he spent £79 on deodorant, shower gel and razors at a Saver’s store.
Mark Doyle (pictured with his purchases) looked wide awake when he went to Saver’s in Glasgow two weeks ago, but he was actually fast asleep – which didn’t stop him spending £159
The father-of-four, who has had the unusual condition nearly all his life, said: ‘When I woke up I noticed that I spent more than £100 on so many things like deodorant, bath sponges, shower gel, hair wax, you name it.
‘On July 13, I went and purchased £78.49 worth of toiletries which I didn’t need.
‘The following day I went back in to return the products but I took a turn again, fell asleep and I tried to buy more stuff – about £80 worth.
‘But luckily I couldn’t find my card so the staff had to take all the other items back.
‘I went again the same day and bought £26 worth of stuff. I was in the shop that day four times.
‘At the start, my turns would last me for about five to 10 minutes every day but now they are lasting as long as half an hour and to me that’s dangerous.
‘I can’t afford to be doing this anymore, I don’t have that kind of money to spend.’
Last week Mark tried to take the toiletries back but says staff refused to reimburse the items despite him having the receipt.
They claim it was because of a spillage in his shopping bag.
He said: ‘I tried to explain my condition but they were not having it.
‘I don’t get how they can let me return the other items but not that other receipt.
‘They just told me that it’s not their problem it’s mine.
‘I just hate the way I’ve been treated. Younger people disrespect me and they just think I’m stupid but I’m not.
He added: ‘I have never been able to secure a job if I am being honest.
Two weeks ago he ended up sleep walking to Barrhead, near Glasgow where he spent £79 on deodorant, shower gel and razors at a Saver’s store (pictured)
‘My last job I was working as a barman and I was collecting glasses. But I had to leave that because of this.
‘I once took a turn in Morrisons and bought six chickens, six cans of dog food and 12 packets of cat food – although I don’t have pets.
‘I took it back an hour later when I woke up, luckily, one of the members of staff knew someone with the same condition.
But Mark isn’t letting his condition get him down – despite its unfortunate symptoms.
He said: ‘You just don’t remember your actions very well. When I talk to someone while sleeping, sometimes it’s like I am speaking a different language.
‘It just doesn’t make sense. I want to raise awareness. I believe I am on this planet for a reason. I’m actually happy and I’m a fun guy.’
He recalled how difficult his condition made his childhood, saying: ‘School was torture for me, teachers thought I should go to a disability school because I struggled to pay attention.
‘But they didn’t realise that although I looked wide awake, I was actually asleep. They didn’t understand that but my mum did.
Saver’s claim the reason Mark was not refunded (purchases pictured) was because the goods were damaged from a leak in his shopping bag
‘You are not in control at all, it’s a nightmare. I wouldn’t be able to tell you when it’s going to happen it just happens.
‘I could be talking to someone face-to-face and I’ll fall asleep, even when I’m on the phone, the phone would just drop on the ground while I take another turn.
‘I bump my head, fall down, get black eyes and end up in hospital, all sorts.
‘I’ve got stains all over my carpet because of this and I’ve fallen asleep in buses and ended up in Ayr or Kilmarnock because I’ve missed my stop.’
Saver’s claims the reason Mark was not refunded was because the goods were damaged from a leak in his shopping bag.
A spokesman said: ‘Mr Doyle has not made direct contact with our Customer Relations Department regarding this incident.
‘As part of our refund and exchange policy, we will accept returns for any goods which have been purchased from our stores, within 28 days from the date of purchase, providing that they are in the same perfect, sealed and unused condition as when purchased and there is a valid receipt or proof of purchase accompanying these.
‘We do not accept liability for any goods which have been damaged after they have been purchased unless they are faulty.
Last week Mark tried to take the toiletries back but says staff refused to reimburse the items despite him having the receipt (pictured)
‘Having communicated with the Area Manager regarding the incident, we understand that the reason for the refund refusal is because the packaging for all the goods Mr Doyle wanted to return appeared to have been damaged, apparently from a different product which had leaked in the bag.
‘Mr Doyle has received refunds for unwanted purchases on at least two separate occasions and the service which the team has provided to him has always been in line with our expected standards of service, as well as our refund and exchange policy.’
According to experts at the Narcolepsy UK charity, the condition is believed to affect around one in 2,500 people.
That means in the UK, there are approximately 30,000 people who have the disorder.
Nicola Rule, who works for the charity, said: ‘Automatic behaviour and micro sleep are not only hard to explain to others but are very hard to live with, as they are unpredictable and invisible to the sufferer and onlookers.
‘It is really not at all that unusual for people with narcolepsy to suffer from the same problems as Mark.
‘Even going shopping at night on the websites can be an involuntary action.’
The most common symptoms of narcolepsy are excessive daytime sleepiness, brought on by an irresistible need to sleep at inappropriate times during the day.
Many sufferers also experience cataplexy – a temporary involuntary loss of muscle control.