TOURETTES Syndrome can be frightening both for the sufferer and the observer.

People tend to shy away from the erratic outbursts which are frequent and disturbing but composer Crimea Butler Downton tells Sam Bond how he believes Tourettes has helped to nurture his very special musical talent.

TALENTED composer Crimea Butler Downton is celebrating after doctors confirmed what he has long suspected - his odd behaviour is due in part to the often-misunderstood Tourette's Syndrome.

Half-blind Crimea is a familiar sight in Stroud, often seen in conversation with himself in the High Street.

"For me the confirmation means a lot," he told the SNJ.

"I can say with certainty now that that's what spawns some of the outbursts and my behaviour."

"I had to go up to Birmingham Tourette's Clinic to get it diagnosed.

"In the past I didn't know where the compulsions came from, I put it down to eccentricity."

Tourette's is thought to be a neurological disorder with a genetic component characterised by twitching movements and vocal ticks.

Despite popular perception it does not necessarily involve random swearing.

There are several associated conditions which often affect sufferers including obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Tourette's is not a rare disorder and around one in 100 children display symptoms. "With me it's not really about swearing," said Crimea.

"Though I do find myself repeating swear words under my breath if I hear other people saying them.

"Having Tourette's does not necessarily mean that you can't help all your actions.

"Some of the compulsions are very, very difficult to control but I have learned strategies to cope.

"A lot of my compulsions are vocal though and so my way of coping is to talk a lot to myself.

"Also I am obsessed with shapes, symmetry, touching and smelling.

"For me, my worst compulsion is to touch people."

The composer said the condition makes life very difficult for him and he avoids public gatherings when possible.

He has also had problems in the past with being banned from buildings because he licks and smells objects.

"It means I'm very poor at socialising which stops me going out," he said.

"I don't enjoy going out at all because I'm conscious there are other people about and I'd have compulsions to touch them or ask them to say words, I like the sound of words and the way people say them."

"I find myself repeating other people's words or copying their accents, which they sometimes take offence at."

He said uncomfortable or stressful situations made the compulsions and his ticking worse.

"Some movements are involuntary and others are done purposefully to relieve tension," he said.

"If I can feel the tension building up I have to do these twitch-like motions or I get a lot worse.

"A lot of the time the reason why I get so angry is because I'm trying to control the symptoms.

"If I was to act on all the compulsions I'd go around licking the walls, jumping up to touch the trees and spinning round like a child.

"The worst thing is if people are unfriendly and I get mocked," he said.

"It doesn't happen as much as it used to but I avoid situations where it might.

"It's not so bad in Stroud anymore because a lot of people know me and are used to my behaviour."

Although Crimea said life with Tourette's could be frustrating and difficult, he now says he would not be without it.

"The specialist in Birmingham asked me if I wanted medication and I said not really, because it would spoil my creativity," he said.

"It makes everything more intense, the good things as well as the bad and I'm sure it helps me with my music."

Crimea is set to appear in a video produced by the Tourette's Syndrome Association on links between the condition and musical ability.

* For more information on the condition call the Tourette's Syndrome Association on 0845 4581252 or see its website at www.tsa.org.uk