He said he is delighted to finally career path after years of unemployment

Finds he excels as a tree surgeon when he has a trial in the role

on physical tasks can keep them under control

Working as a tree surgeon is one of the most dangerous jobs you can do, so having tics that cause sudden arms movements might seem like an occupational hazard.

But Tourette's Syndrome sufferer Tom has discovered that it is actually an ideal role for him after years of struggling to find employment.

The 27-year-old from from Staffordshire's condition means he can randomly touch his nose and punch his legs as well as making sudden noises like meows.

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Tom, 27, has discovered a talent for tree surgery after years of Unemployment due to his Tourette's

But being engrossed in a dangerous task, like using a chainsaw 30ft up a tree, he is concentrating so hard that his tics don't manifest.

He explains: 'Because I am so focused on staying safe I am always thinking of what I am doing and I don't have to tic. To find something physically engaging helps me stop ticking so much.

'There are areas that intensify the tics such as in a public places. When people don't know you have tics and are staying at you it is hard.

'You can see people looking at you thinking "what are you doing" as if you are mad. For me, that is not the case, I know I have Tourettes.'

Tics in those with Tourettes occur due to a temporary problem occurring inside the brain which which disrupts the decision-making process.

Tom, who was diagnosed with the condition as a teenager, describes it as like a glass filling with water that keeps filling and then overflows.

'You can hold a tic for a certain amount of time but then it will come out,' he said.

Stress and being tired exasperate his tics but when he is concentrating on a task they do not occur.

Tom, centre, on trial as a tree surgeon with boss Paul, right. He said the work was like a 'cure' for his Tourette's as he didn't have any tics throughout the day as he was so focused on the dangerous, physical work

As a result, he can ride a motorbike and has now discovered he has a talent for tree surgery.

Tom discovered his aptitude for the role as he appears on the BBC documentary Employable Me.

The show aims to dispel stereotypes about people with disabilities and show how they can be an asset to the workforce when their skills are harnessed.

Tom admits that he had never considered a career in tree surgery before but was amazed at how much it suited him.

It was difficult at school because the teachers thought I could control it and I was taking the mic

After a trial with a local business, he said it was 'like a temporary cure' as he got through the whole working day without having a single tic.

Being outdoors and being active also suited him after years of struggling to find employment.

He said: 'I feel comfortable here I don't feel exposed, I like the manual side of it and climbing trees.'

He is delighted to have found a new career path after years of battling with his condition.

He admitted that low confidence and a lack of adequate support from teachers meant he struggled at school and dropped out of university, despite having a higher than average IQ.

He said: 'It was difficult at school because the teachers thought I could control it and I was taking the mick. They would make me sit on my hands because I couldn't sit still.'

He added that as an adult, he struggled to get employers to give him a chance, especially as his tics manifest during stressful interview situations.

'What gets me down sometimes is I don't have a choice about having Tourettes. I need someone to look at my CV and see that I can do the job and give me a shot,' he said.

He added that he longs for 'everything normal people have' as his lack of employment means he still lives at home with his parents as he can't afford to move out.

Tom is now studying to be a tree surgeon and is excited to finally have a career path after struggling at school and dropping out of university as he used to find his Tourette's held him back from being in the workplace

He said: 'I want independence, I want to have my own place, a family and a chance to achieve in life which I believe I am capable of.

'The fact I find it hard to find a job means I want it even more. I need someone to take a punt on me so I can show them what I am capable of. I am willing to work my backside off to show that to someone.'

Certain jobs have always been ruled out for him because of his condition.

'I couldn't work in a quiet office as I know I couldn't be quiet. It is not because I feel bad for myself but because I would be disturbing everyone else and that would make it worse. For me that industry wouldn't work,' he said.

He also tried his hand at teaching but found the stress of the job and standing up in front of the class all day didn't suit him - nor the fact some verbal tics manifest as swearing.

'There is an underlying anxiety issue with Tourette's I don't want to slip up and shout "f off" in front of a load of kids,' he said.

Occupational psychologist Nancy Doyle pushed him to keep searching for a role that would work for him after putting him through a series of tests that proved his high intelligence.

She said: 'It is very common for people with Tourette's to have low self esteem and hide away. What I want to do with Tom is put that to one side and see what are your abilities. Just because one area of the brain isn't working well, it doesn't mean the rest isn't.'

She found that Tom's verbal IQ was 136 (the average is 112) while his perceptional reasoning was 117 - in the top 13 per cent.

The fact I find it hard to find a job mans I want it even more. I need someone to take a punt on me so I can show them what I am capable of

But she said his abilities to do some tasks was 'compromised by your brain working to control tics so you might not seem as truly bright as you are to start with.'

Tom admits: 'I need to be physically engaged in what I am doing so I am not thinking about tics.'

This leads him to try a day as a tree surgeon after a local boss, Steve, agrees to give him a chance.

Steve said: 'Tree surgery is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, today is a trial period where we will see if he can cut it. The added uncertainty is the tics, we have to monitor him and see if he gets tics under stress.

'When you are up a tree you have a secondary rope attached and if he has a tic with a chainsaw in his hand, he could cut through his rope.'

Tom excelled on his trial day and didn't have a single tic, even when exhausted 30ft up a tree cutting down branches with a saw.

He is now doing a course to become a fully qualified tree surgeon.

He said: 'It is nice to finally find something that suits me and works with who I am. It am excited to pursue this as a career.'