A man says he is still a virgin at 47 as he is "petrified" to be intimate with anyone."

Andrew Brookman says he's always been "timid" and struggled with bullying at school."

His parents divorced when he was aged 10 which fuelled his fear of being social, getting into a relationship or being intimate with anyone, he claims.

Andrew didn't want to go through arguments and had a "fear of life" so felt he would "rather be on my own"."

He says his fears also stemmed from suppressing his sexuality and homophobia he saw at the time he was growing up.

Porn became his "only outlet" and reference for sex and Andrew says he struggled with an addiction to watching it for up to a two hours a night everyday when he was in his 30s."

Now he is starting to open up about his sexuality and is no longer ashamed of being a 47-year-old-virgin.

He feels he can relate to those on Channel 4's new show, Virgin Island - a unique course in intimacy to help them overcome the fears that are holding them back.

Andrew, a cleaner, from Pontypridd, Wales, said: "I've never been in a relationship."

"Watching other people get divorced - and seeing arguments gave me a fear of being social and intimate."

"I didn't want to go through all that."

"I'd rather be on my own."

"You feel a sense of shame [being a virgin]."

"Having no confidence, no self-esteem and no self-worth and being repressed of sex drove me to seek therapy because I was petrified of getting intimate with anybody."

"I am not ashamed of being a virgin at 47."

Andrew struggled growing up and always felt he was "different"."

He said: "I've always been timid and quiet."

"I've always been afraid, I've always been emotional."

"I got bullied in school."

"I was different. I was odd."

As a teenager he "fancied girls" but didn't know how to progress any further."

He said: "I wanted to move forward but I couldn't because of my confidence."

At aged 16, Andrew realised he was attracted to men and gay but he was fearful of opening up about his sexuality due to homophobia in society at the time.

He said: "The fear grew."

"I went into the closet."

In his late 20s he had therapy and was put on anti-depressants but Andrew still struggled to get passed his fear.

He also tackled a porn addiction in his 30s when he got his own place - which saw him watch gay porn every night.

Andrew said: "It was my only outlet."

"It was my only way of feeling sex and seeing sex."

"I wanted to be doing it as well. I was jealous of them [the porn stars]."

"I was enraged that I couldn't even have sex in private."

Now he is starting to let his walls down by writing a book - 'Colours of a rare bird'.

He says writing how he feels down has helped him overcome shame and he has volunteered for the first time ever at his local pride.

Andrew says he dislikes that people will laugh about others being virgins.

He said: "It's not funny."

"By now I should be openly gay - I should be in a relationship."

"I'm not afraid to admit it now [that he's a virgin]."

Find out more about Andrew's book here - https://www.merlinuspublishers.co.uk/andrew-brookman/