AN EPILEPSY sufferer has spoken out against the lack of understanding about the illness.

Family man Gavin Roberts has been hospitalised, grabbed around the neck by strangers and even handcuffed by police during an epileptic seizure.

Problems occur when the teetotal family man appears drunk to those not aware his is having an epileptic fit when he is shopping or socialising with friends.

The 24-year-old is now urging people to ‘think before you act’ to avoid misunderstandings with one of around 500 people suffering with the condition throughout Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester.

The Weymouth man said the key to avoiding misunderstandings was to raise awareness.

He said: “I can understand where people are coming from, they are thinking with their eyes, but sometimes they just need to take a moment to think about the situation.

“Sometimes when people think a person is drunk or acting odd or something like that it doesn’t mean they are in that state, there can be other reasons.

“I’ve been out at night and maybe come close to a person when I’ve not meant to because I’m having a seizure and been grabbed by the neck because they thought I was a weirdo.”

Like all sufferers he does not know when a seizure will start or how bad it will be.

He recently found himself being treated at Dorchester County Hospital and was left with scars to his right cheek and eye after scraping his face against a concrete pavement during a fit.

Gavin’s epilepsy is caused by a ‘scar’ on the front of his brain which hinders the flow of oxygen.

Although diagnosed with the illness as a toddler the former Budmouth College student’s first clear memory of a seizure was as a 12-year-old.

He said: “The first time I was very scared because you don’t know if it’s going to be a full-blown one or just make you feel all over the place and in your own world, which is when I appear drunk to people.”

Unemployed Gavin said he had even been discriminated against by employers.

He said: “A lot of places I’ve worked in have been good jobs but when I’ve had a seizure I’ve suddenly been sacked because of the epilepsy.

“It happens immediately after I come around, so it’s a big coincidence if it’s not because of the epilepsy.”

He added: “I think it’s a lack of understanding because they do not, or are not, capable of dealing with the condition or are scared, even.”

Gavin lives with his wife Sarah on Upwey Street with their son Joshua, 2, and deals with the condition with the support of his whole family.

Jean Woodward is the former chairman of Epilepsy Action, which helps sufferers in Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester.

She said there was a stigma attached to the illness but felt people had to be educated on how to handle the situation when someone was having a seizure, such as knowing first aid.

She urged sufferers to get in contact with the group by calling her on 01305 773346.