meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Bad People

52. Uncivilised Cruelty: Should rough sex be illegal?

Bad People

BBC

True Crime

4.41.1K Ratings

🗓️ 27 January 2022

⏱️ 33 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Studies show that nearly half the UK population have experimented with bondage, discipline, sadism, masochism (BDSM). It is surprisingly common, so why did a group of men practicing BDSM end up in prison? Should we police what people do in the bedroom? On this episode of bad people Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen discuss the “rough sex” defence. Is it an opportunity to get away with murder or a necessary part of the legal framework? This episode contains audio from BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and the documentary When Sex Games Go Wrong, produced by Caitlin Kelly. Warning: This episode includes graphic descriptions of violence and some swearing. CREDITS Presenters: Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen Producer: Caroline Steel Assistant Producer: Simon Rata Music: Matt Chandler Editor: Rami Tzabar #BadPeople_BBC Commissioning Assistant Producer: Adam Eland Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins Bad People is produced in partnership with The Open University and is a BBC Audio Science Production for BBC

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hey, let me ask you, sir, have you heard George's podcast?

0:06.1

Me and Ben Brick are back with a blast, this time with stories from Africa's past.

0:11.0

Not too distant, unsolved mysteries, unsung heroes from untold histories, I'm trying

0:16.9

to make sense of the present day, join me on this journey by pressing play.

0:23.8

Have you heard George's podcast?

0:25.7

Chapter four.

0:27.1

Listen on BBC Sounds.

0:29.5

BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.

0:34.9

Three, two, one.

0:39.2

If a sexual partner told you that they had always fantasized about you hurting them, do

0:44.0

you think that you would do it?

0:45.2

Yeah, and I have, but they'd have to specify what type of pain they're after.

0:49.2

They can't just be like, hurt me, and then I'll be like, oh, now I understand why

0:53.2

your mother never hugged you, and what they actually meant was like, like, spanking.

0:57.0

That's not what I meant.

0:59.0

What about you, Julia?

1:00.0

I also, yes, I also would, if a partner asked.

1:03.3

But I've learned that although I'm happy to try lots of things, I definitely have limits.

1:06.9

So a partner when I was younger asked me to do blood play with him, I learned that even

1:12.9

the thought of piercing someone's skin to intentionally make them bleed was out of my

1:18.2

comfort zone.

1:19.2

I've never done blood play unless I'm in sex on your period counts.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.