One in five people in South Yorkshire have broken lockdown for sex, survey reveals

By far the biggest group breaching the restrictions (48%) are couples who were in a relationship prior to lockdown but don't live together.

In this group, 52% have had sex with their partner since the rules were imposed which stopped people from visiting the homes of anyone outside of their household.

More than half of those breaching the rules ( 61%) have sneaked to their partner’s house for sex and other popular places for sex include cars, parks, beaches, beauty spots and other public places.

A third (32%) have answered a late night ‘booty call’ and gone to their partner’s house specifically for sex.

Affairs have also continued during lockdown.

Of those breaking the lockdown for sex, 22% are people cheating on their partners with lovers they were seeing before the restrictions were imposed.

However, there is a smaller group (8%) who have started new affairs since lockdown began and have met up with a new lover for sex.

The results are from a new survey of 2,000 people aged by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s leading affairs site.

It found that 22% of people have had sex in breach of the lockdown rules.

The level of lockdown cheating was even higher amongst the under-30s with 38% admitting they had breached the rules by having sex.

Less than half those questioned (48%) said they felt guilty about breaking the restrictions.

Two-thirds (64%) said they would carry on breaking the rules and having sex as long as a full lockdown lasts.

Last week, Professor Neil Ferguson, 51, resigned from the Government’s SAGE committee after admitting meeting up with his married lover for secret trysts in breach of the rules.

IllicitEncounters.com sex and relationship expert Jessica Leoni said: “It is no surprise that one in five people in South Yorkshire have broken the lockdown for sex.

“I think people were prepared to make sacrifices in the first few weeks after the new rules were imposed but more and more breaches have been happening the longer it has gone on.

“It is very easy to succumb to lust, particularly late at night when you have been communicating with a partner you were seeing pre-lockdown.

“People flirt on Facetime or Zoom and then agree to meet up when passion gets the better of them. That is why we are seeing so many ‘booty calls’ late at night - often fuelled by alcohol.

“The rules are particularly hard on young people who are often in committed relationships but don’t live with their partners.

“They have a very low risk of getting seriously ill from the virus and don’t see why they should forgo sex and be separated from their partners for months on end.”

Who’s breaking the lockdown for sex?

1 Couples in a relationship who don’t live together - 48%

2 People having affairs which pre-date the lockdown - 22%

3 Singles who have have met someone new since lockdown - 20%

4 People having new affairs - 8%

5 Married couples living in separate house who have met up for sex in breach of the restrictions 2%