Watch out for that philandering friend

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - A British dating website revealed on Tuesday that half of the unfaithful men it polled for a survey on affairs admitted to having a fling with a friend's wife or girlfriend.

The poll conducted by British internet dating company www.benaughty.com showed that of the more than 5,000 men it surveyed who admitted to being unfaithful, a staggering 46.9 percent said they had had a fling with a friend's wife or girlfriend.

"It's a remarkable figure and well above what we would have thought," benaughty.com Marketing Manager Sean Wood said in a statement.

"Attractions develop very easily between men and women who see each other often, in the same circles. And it is often easier to be together without arousing any suspicions."

The survey was conducted amid a frenzy of tabloid newspaper reporting on former England soccer captain John Terry.

Terry was stripped of the captaincy after allegations in the British media that he had had an extra-marital affair with the former girlfriend of England team mate Wayne Bridge, who was a club mate of his at Chelsea before joining Manchester City last year.

Between February 5 and 14, a total of 5,512 men looking for discreet relationships were asked three questions:

Have you ever had a relationship with your friend's wife or partner?

Yes: 46.9 percent

No: 53.1 percent.

Did you get caught?

Yes: 7.84 percent

No: 92.16 percent

Did you confess?

Yes: 8.25 percent

No: 91.75 percent.

(Reporting by Paul Casciato, Editing by Steve Addison)