It was not a happy ending for the couple when they were unable to open the steel cuffs.

The Stockholm police eventually arrived with bolt-cutters to free the sheepish couple from their ordeal.

“It was hard not to laugh, especially as my shift was ending. It’s among the strangest things I have experienced, but I know that it does happen,” police officer Martin Ferm told Stockholm Direkt.

Police were called to the home in Täby, north of Stockholm, shortly after 5 am on Saturday. According to Ferm one of the lovers was rather “proud” while the other was “embarrassed”.

Two other Swedish forces have had to deal with similar incidents.

“We were warned about this at the police academy and it will surely happen again,” said Ferm.