Husband touched me when I was sleeping

OP, sounds like you need separate beds and you might want to consider splitting up now. Does it feel like “time”?

Yeah, I would think most couples might feel each other during the night. Late DH and I did. Depends on the relationship though. 🤷‍♀️

For a normal person, touching someone intimately while they are asleep without consent would not be appropriate. Whether they have an active sex life or not is irrelevant.

Sorry, but no. That's very clearly not what's happening in the OP's circumstances. It wasn't a cuddle. It wasn't someone lashing out during a nightmare.

People absolutely do not reach over, search out their wife's nipple and pinch it, hard enough to wake her up, by accident in their sleep. They just don't.

This man has a history of coercive control. This is just another facet of his abuse.

Please leave him, OP. He's an absolute danger. Touching you like this in your sleep, gaslighting you about it and the history of coercive control are all part of the same thing. He's abusive.

What the hell. What do I do?…… reach out and squeeze his bollocks might be a good place to start!

You seriously think groping someone's tits wouldn't count as sexual?

Good luck with defending that in court.

Maybe twist his balls hard with your eyes shut?
Deny all knowledge.
Then ltb.

If you're so uncomfortable with him touching your breast you need separate beds. When you sharing a bed with someone you've been intimate with hands can end up anywhere whilst asleep. I've woke up go my DH shouting oww because I'd pinched him in my sleep. I've also woke with my hand on his genitals which I assume was just me cuddling up to him and my hand landing where it did. I'd feel pretty shit if I was accused of sexual assault. I'd never share a bed with a man I wasn't intimate with because I know these things could happen.

OP was sleeping. How can you consent if you are fast asleep?

Putting your hand on intimate places would qualify. Do you really need clarification?

The fact he wakes you then denies it is nasty in it's own right. Frankly, he doesn't like you much Op, you'd be better sleeping apart

And all the rape apologists and minimisers on this thread can fuck the fuck off.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/15/the-sexual-assault-of-sleeping-women-the-hidden-horrifying-crisis-in-britains-bedrooms

He didn’t just touch her breast though. He pinched her nipple then denied doing it.

Quite. If my husband is to roll over in the night and have a quick cuddle/fondle to see if I'm in the mood it is most definitely not sexual assault. If im not in the mood I just say so or if I am than he can crack on.

How do you initiate sex in a normal marriage if you cant even cuddle in bed without being accused of sexual assault?

Just trying to build a picture before making judgement.

if my husband was to touch me in the night it wouldn’t be a big deal because we’re intimate and touching each other isn’t anything out of the ordinary.

For a couple who aren’t intimate this is something that would be seen as a red flag and inappropriate.

You've been sexually assaulted. Make alternative sleeping arrangements even if that includes him sleeping on the sofa or at a friend's house if he can't do that. Tell him what it is, and tell him if he does it again, or anything similar you'll report him to the police.
I assume divorce proceedings are ongoing?

You need to leave.

In the meantime, don't share a bed with him. Is there a spare room you can sleep in?

Ignore the top above two victim blaming posters who are chatting complete shit.
Your OP gave me the shivers. There’s a HUGE difference between cuddling your sleeping partner and pinching their nipple then flatly denying it when asked. For me this would be cause to not be sharing a bed anymore and prob leave.

just wanted to say I’m sorry you’ve had some disgusting replies to your thread op.

you need to think carefully if it’s time to cut your losses and leave, not over this single event, but I’m sure for you it forms a collection of behaviours where you are now averse to your partner.

the fact alone that he doesn’t want to communicate with you about something that has upset you and crossed your boundaries says it all in my view.

What difference does that make?

I've reported your post for victim blaming and perpetuating rape myths but before it gets deleted I want to point out that sexual contact between anyone ALWAYS requires consent and touching anyone sexually without consent, even your spouse, is sexual assault.

Why are you with him? Let alone sharing a bed.