A MAN with a rare brain disorder says he is locked in a “nightmare” that sees him spend hundreds of pounds on shopping - while he’s asleep.

Mark Doyle suffers from narcolepsy, which causes him to suddenly fall asleep at any time.

One of the symptoms of the illness is ‘automatic behaviour’ which means Mark can carry out everyday tasks such as cleaning, cooking and shopping while fast asleep.

Mark, 46, from Neilston, East Renfrewshire, looks wide awake to others but is in fact fast asleep and completely unaware of what he’s doing.

The dad-of-four has suffered from the brain disorder all his life and two weeks ago Mark had an episode at the Savers store in Barrhead’s Main Street.

It saw him spent more than £120 on toiletries.

He 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 5-10 mins 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 worth £78.49 – despite him having the receipt.

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.

“I have never been able to secure a job if I am being honest. 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.”

According to experts at the Narcolepsy UK charity, it is, “not that unusual” for people with narcolepsy to suffer from the same problems as Mark.

Nicola Rule, from the charity, said: “Even going shopping at night on the websites can be an involuntary action.”

Mark added: “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.”

Mark was diagnosed with the disorder when he was 11-years-old.

He said: “School was torcher 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.

“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.”

A spokeswoman for Savers said the reason Mark was not refunded was because the goods were damaged from a leak in the bag.