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A couple who proudly admit they had sex on a bench outside a Sainsbury's supermarket say they don't see the problem with it.

The couple, both street drinkers, said "it was dark and we were in the mood" and argue they haven't done anyone any harm.

Emma and her partner, who did not want to be named, spoke to our sister title in Hull, Hull Live , following a spate of complaints about drinkers in the area.

One security guard in the city's Newland Avenue labelled it a "warzone" and said street drinkers were putting off shoppers.

But Emma, who has been seen having sex on the bench before with her boyfriend, said she does not think it is a problem.

"Yeah we have had sex on the bench before, and I've n***ed him off as well but what's the issue? It was dark and we were in the mood and it didn't do anyone any harm," she said.

"We're nice people and all people need to do is just come up to us and say hello if they've got a problem. We don't bite. Yeah we might ask people if they've got a cig or if they can give us or a spare bit of change, but they can say no and we don't get nasty or anything.

(Image: Hull Live)

"All we're here for is to have a good time and there's no crime in street drinking. The police have even said we aren't doing anything wrong and as long as we aren't too loud, there's no problem in being here."

The boyfriend of Emma, who did not want to be named, agreed with his partner and was also openly proud of the couple's sexual antics.

"This is my bench. I come here with my girlfriend and if we get a bit frisky when we've had a drink then so what? I'm sure everyone who's had a drink knows what it's like when you get a bit horny," he said.

"I might ask someone if they've got 20p, but I don't care if they say no and I just thank them anyway.

"For us it's just somewhere to hang about and have a laugh and a drink."

Bobby, a heroin user, who says he visits the bench quite often, said he does not want to cause any trouble by congregating there to see his friends.

"I’m a heroin user so I don't often drink really and only have some beers now and again so it's not like I'm here p***ed off my face, I just come out here to socialise," he said.

"We might be a bit loud and I have asked people for money before, but I’d rather people just speak to us if they have a problem rather than looking down on us.

"We are still people as well and just have different circumstances that's all."

Inspector Mark Peasgood said Newland Avenue was a thriving area with a real community spirit and that the main shopping street, shop keepers and residents deserve and have the support of their local community policing team.





He said: “By reporting incidents of anti-social aggressive begging and street drinking to the police we can act on the information people give us.

“Following intelligence and information from the local community a multi-agency week of action took place in September where eight people were arrested, three warrants were executed and £40,000 worth of counterfeit tobacco was taken off the streets."