Tattoo fan diagnosed with Parkinson's aged 23 reveals how he uses ink as his therapy

Aug. 19, 2016

Shaun Slicker tells his story in Channel 5's Tattoo Disasters UK and reveals that he gets tattooed every other fortnight

One of the UK's youngest Parkinson's sufferers uses his tattoos as therapy to cope with the disease. 

Shaun Slicker, now 30, was just 23 when he was diagnosed with the crippling disease that leaves him with slurred speech and body tremors.

But he has a unique way of coping with his condition - getting inked by his favourite artist every other week.

The dad-of-three shares his story in Channel 5 's Tattoo Disasters UK which looks at some of the mistakes people have made when it comes to tattoo decisions.

Shaun showing off amazing tattoos

He uses the inking as therapy

For Shaun, from Oldham, Manchester, his tatts were never a mistake, but a way to help stop him sinking into depression due to his diagnosis, and now his body is around 75 per cent covered, with aspirations to be fully inked from head-to-toe.

"I will keep getting tattooed until I'm six feet under," he says in the documentary series, "When I didn't have a new tattoo, I got a bit down and depressed and sulky."

His tattoo reads, 'I might have Parkinson's but Parkinson's doesn't have me'

The Mancunian adds: "If it wasn't for the fact that tattoos take so long to heal I would be here every day."

Now Shaun is an alternative model, whipping off his shirt to show off his impressive designs and he makes sure that 50 per cent of the money he earns from photoshoots goes straight to Parkinson's charities.

"I'm one of the youngest Parkinson's sufferers in the UK. Most people associated Parkingson's with the elderly and having the shoes and proper tremoring.

The dad wants to be fully covered

"That's not the case, I don't have the shakes. Sometimes I really do struggle walking. My legs stiffen up a lot, rigidity, slowness in movement. If I didn't [stretch my legs] everyday, eventually I would seize up, probably for good."

He almost hit "rock bottom" after his diagnosis but now he echoes the words he has inked on his jaw by 'staying strong and positive'.

Also appearing in the series, which is narrated by Charlotte Crosby, is a dad-of-two who copied his idol Tupac Shakur with the words 'f*** the world' and 'thug life' who says: "As a dad the swear word on my back, it's just disgraceful. I've learned my lesson now, I will never ever have a bad tattoo done again."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/tattoo-fan-diagnosed-parkinsons-aged-8665396