What is sexting and which politicians and celebrities have been caught out?

SEXTING is becoming increasingly common in the modern world with the boom in mobile phones and social media - but there are risks involved.

A number of public figures have also been caught out when their messages have been leaked. Here's what you need to know.

What is sexting?

The word sexting entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 2011 and is a combination of the words "sex" and "texting".

This can take the form of using sexual language in a message or sending a picture of yourself partially-clothed or totally naked via a mobile phone or another electronic device to someone you are flirting with.

Although the practice can be harmless it can also have negative consequences.

A growing number of Revenge Porn cases stems from the popularity of sexting and has triggered the introduction of new laws to protect people from explicit images being maliciously made public.

Police have also warned children are increasingly engaging in sexting, with a number of disturbing cases requiring officers to speak to under-12s who have shared intimate pictures of themselves.

Sexting has left a number of politicians and celebrities with red faces after details of their messages have been made public.

What is the theory behind sexting?

Research by California State University suggests people are actually more likely to sext when they're in a committed relationship.

Academics found people who experienced emotionally insecure relationships with their parents or guardians growing up often feel anxious when their own relationships become close and avoid intimacy with their partner.

The study discovered the same people were still anxious about being single, however, so would stay in their relationships while pursuing less emotionally risky sexual fulfilment elsewhere.

Another theory behind why people sext while in secure relationships is that the person involved is affected by "hypersexual disorder"... better known as sex addiction.

The disorder is characterised by recurrent sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviours that interfere with daily life.

However, it could also be that some men simply enjoy sending sexually explicit messages to other women behind their partner's back, and that despite past embarrassment they still try it again.

Which celebrities and politicians have been caught out?

Married US politician Anthony Weiner is perhaps the most infamous sexting scandal headline-maker after he was caught sending a bare-chested photo of himself to another woman.

The US congressman sent photos of himself in bed with a pair of white boxers on - shockingly his young son was also in the photo.

Weiner had to resign from congress back in 2011 after he accidentally posted a lewd photo of himself on Twitter.

Two years later he was caught again using the psuedonym “Carlos Danger” whilst sexting an aspiring porn star called Sydney Leather.

Back in the UK the Labour Party's Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk sent sexually explicit messages to 17-year-old Sophena Houlihan who had messaged him looking for a job.

Mr Danczuk later since said he needed help for sex addiction after it emerged he had sex with a 22-year-old woman on his constituency desk.

TV presenter Vernon Kay found himself in the midst of a sexting scandal in 2010 over messages he exchanged with model Rhian Sugden.

After the story broke he apologised on Radio 1 to his wife, the Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly, saying he had made “some stupid decisions”.

He added: “I have disappointed and I have let down a lot of people. I am very sorry.”

The dad of two pledged to never again contact Rhian or four other women he sexted.

However, in 2016 he was again accused of sending hundreds of flirty messages with the model over a three-month period.

Responding to these allegations, Kay said: "I recognise how it may look when messages are pulled out of context but there was never any inappropriate intent to our communication.

"I was merely trying to find answers to questions that I've had since 2010."

In July 2018 the MP Andrew Griffiths resigned after allegations of inappropriate behaviour surfaced.

It was revealed that he sent 2,000 lewd and inappropriate text messages to two barmaids, with offers to rent a flat to meet for sex.

He said: "I am deeply ashamed at my behaviour which has caused untold distress to my wife and family, to whom I owe everything, and deep embarrassment to the Prime Minister and the Government I am so proud to serve."