Students Turn to Sex Industry For Cash

27 March 2015, 07:58 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Almost a quarter of students have thought about working in the sex industry while at university.

Researchers in south Wales spoke to more than six thousand young people across the country.

22% said they had considered working as strippers, escorts or cam girls while 1 in 20 are already doing it.

More than half said they did it to fund their time at uni and pay for things like food, rent and going out.

Second year student Lisa works on an adult chatline. She said: "It was more of a buzz than anything because the calls came in a lot on the first night.

"I guess it's just a fascination from guys when you're a new user. My phone didn't stop ringing - I guess it's like when a new restaurant opens and everyone wants to try it out. 

"I think I made £400 by the time I went to bed at one o'clock so, i was like, I'm sorted, just clear my debt."

Lisa - which is not her real name - features in a video made by Cardiff production company Visual Influence which goes along with the study from Swansea University and NUS Wales.

The NUS says working in the sex industry "must be choice, never necessity" and wants to see more support offered to students.