US Edition It was an ''unseasonably mild'' night in late October 1998 when the man from Barnes, south-west London, could not sleep so took to his garden with the drink.
''After a few moments I heard a distant roar of engines getting louder and louder,'' he told the Ministry of Defence.
''Suddenly a huge craft appeared over the house, heading in a westerly direction at speed.
''It was a large cigar-shaped vehicle with large projectiles on each side like wings.
''It seemed to have two very bright lights at the front and a white light flashing round and round underneath.
''I think that there were also coloured lights at the ends of the projectiles but I am not certain - I was too bloody terrified.
''There also seemed to be a line of lights (which I took to be windows) along the side.
''It disappeared into the distance but as it did so it seemed to be getting closer to the ground.
''As you can imagine I felt quite shaken. I thought of reporting it to the police immediately but decided to leave it to the following day. I then returned to bed and surprisingly fell asleep.''
He went on to say he had gained ''a whole hour''.
''I am now beginning to wonder if I was abducted.''
The MoD, spotting a potential crank, wrote back saying the clocks had gone back the night before.