91福利社

A man who was given electric shocks on the NHS in the 1970's to 'cure' him from being gay has expressed his "deep regret" about the experience.

'John,' from Birmingham, said the Electric Shock Avoidance Therapy gave him "false hope" that he could live as a married heterosexual man.

The 69-year-old said, "I'm going to pass from this life without ever having a full relationship with a human being."

Minister of State for Care and Support, Norman Lamb, said homosexuality was 鈥渘ot an illness鈥� should 鈥渘ever鈥� be treated as such, which is why he strongly opposed such treatment and would never fund it with public money.

First broadcast on the Victoria Derbyshire programme on 23 July 2014.