Half of young adults support prison time for non-consensual condom removal

Almost nine in 10 young adults in the UK believe that removing a condom during sex without the other person’s permission is sexual assault, and around half support prison time as a penalty, finds a new study by UCL researchers.

This is the first UK study to cover views on non-consensual condom removal. It is published in PLOS ONE and surveyed 1,729 people between the ages of 18 and 25, living in the UK.

Young people were chosen as the focus of the study as, out of all demographics, they use condoms the most.

The survey consisted of several examples of non-consensual condom removal, which differed by health outcome and relationship status.

Respondents were then asked questions about the morality and criminality of non-consensual condom removal.

In one scenario a man removes a condom while in a sexually exclusive relationship. However, his partner gets pregnant as a result.

In another scenario, the partner becomes depressed as a result of the condom being removed without her consent.

Two further scenarios explored non-consensual condom removal in either a casual hook-up situation, or for a long-term couple.

Most of the respondents (99%) considered non-consensual condom removal to be wrong and classed it as sexual assault (88%).

Respondents also supported prison time for the act, especially if the victim got pregnant (52.1%), was depressed (41.6%), or if the non-consensual condom removal was done as part of a casual hook-up (53.9%). Meanwhile support for prison time for those in long-term relationships was 47.2%.

Lead author Dr Farida Ezzat (UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health) said: “Regardless of outcome or relationship status, the overwhelming majority of respondents believed the non-consensual condom removal is a violation of consent to sex, morally wrong, and criminal.”

Non-consensual condom removal, sometimes known as ‘stealthing’, occurs when a person removes the condom before or during sexual intercourse without the permission of the other person.

It is classed as rape under UK law and the first successful conviction in England and Wales was in 2019. In this case, Lee Hogben, from Bournemouth, was jailed for 12 years for the rape of a sex worker. She had given consent beforehand for sexual intercourse on the condition a condom was used, and this condition was also stated on her website.

The first conviction in Scotland happened in 2023, when Luke Ford ignored a woman’s wishes to use protection, despite her handing him a condom. It was one of 18 offences against women for which Ford was found guilty.

The researchers hope their findings will inform future campaigns on consent in sexual relationships and legislation to provide support for women affected by non-consensual condom removal.

Senior author Dr Geraldine Barrett (UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health) said: “Non-consensual condom removal during sex, sometimes called ‘stealthing’, has recently emerged in the public and legal spheres as a ‘sex trend’. In the UK there have been three recent rape convictions due to non-consensual condom removal. However, little is known about the attitudes of young adults in the UK.

“We hope our findings will help inform future sexual health campaigns and legislation to tackle this phenomenon to provide much needed support for those affected.”