prison jail
© Justin Nugent/AlamyPolice said the man was 'heading back to prison to serve some further time on his own'.
A wanted man handed himself in to police in West Sussex to avoid having to spend any more time in lockdown with the people he lives with.

The man, whose identity was not disclosed, presented himself voluntarily to Sussex police on Wednesday afternoon, reportedly in the hope of getting some "peace and quiet".

Police said the man, who was "wanted on recall to prison", handed himself in to Burgess Hill police station and was in custody and heading back to jail.

Psychologists are reporting a rise in people experiencing symptoms of sustained stress similar to burnout at work, including problems with sleep and concentration, and many people are desperate for human contact after months of relative or total isolation.

Going back to prison appears to have been more appealing to this man than being cooped up with certain others.

Insp Darren Taylor, of Sussex police, wrote on Twitter: "Peace and quiet! Wanted male handed himself in to the team yesterday afternoon after informing us he would rather go back to prison then have to spend more time with the people he was living with! One in custody and heading back to prison to serve some further time on his own."

A wide range of studies have found that the pandemic has taken a toll on relationships with family and friends. Research from the University of Oxford found that levels of stress, depression and anxiety among parents and carers had increased with the pressures of the lockdowns.

Couples have also felt the strain. In April last year almost a quarter of couples (23%) said they were struggling with their relationships, according to research by the relationship support charity Relate, and figures released in July show that lockdown had made 8% of people realise they need to end their relationship, rising to 15% for those aged between 25 and 34.

Divorce inquiries soared by 300% last year as the coronavirus lockdown led many to consider their relationships, according to the Co-op, and lawyers were inundated with inquiries from divorced parents arguing about where their children should stay during lockdown, with some seeking a prison sentence for their former partners for breaking custody arrangements.