He’s got stubble, he likes a pint, and working out at the gym with the other lads.

But Lee David Carter was actually born Lisa.

The 48-year-old, who lives in Clacton, has just written his life story, “Living With Lisa.”

He plans to promote the autobiography at events in Clacton and Colchester, with further TV appearances on the horizon.

Lee was born and raised in Edmonton, London. He has spent the past three years in Clacton, living in a cottage on Beach Road, overlooking the Palladium. His mum Michelle Taylor lives nearby in Great Clacton.

The supply teacher and actor recalled how he felt he was a man trapped in a woman’s body- a condition known as Gender Dysphoria. Growing up with a sister and brother, the eldest of three recalls being a tomboy as a child.

“I would watch my father shave in the mirror and felt I wanted to do the same. I would go into my father’s wardrobe, try on his shoes and suits at seven years old.”

At junior school, Lee would wear trousers, not a skirt. Later on, he would cover his breasts with bandages to make his chest look flat.

“I felt different, although assigned female at birth, I simply felt like the opposite sex and identified as male. I like women rather than looking at them as friends.”

However, the 1970s and 1980s weren’t as understanding as today and Gender Dysphoria was not talked about. Lee simply felt he did not have the right body parts. He was straight, not lesbian.

As a 15-year-old during a family holiday in Benidorm, Lee had his “first experience with a woman.”

“She was 20-years-old and attractive. After having entertainment in the hotel and Spanish brandy, she jumped into bed, we kissed, turning out the lights.”

“Women would see me as a man in the bedroom and think like a man, but became confused that I was missing the tool.”

Lee had further relationships with women who would tell him he “should have been a boy”. He became “very close” to an American woman and they kept in touch for 20 years. She had a friend who had undergone a sex change, leading Lee to consider the same.

Living in the “wrong shell” and with his parents divorcing, Lee felt he was “unable to achieve anything properly.” After college he began his own cleaning business and performed in local theatre.

“It was difficult to respond to such feelings, lack of support and guidance. Anyone suffering with this will feel isolated, angry, rage, confusion, even suicidal as a way of escape.”

In 2008, aged 40 and “after a life of chaos and confusion,” Lee began the steps to becoming a man. It meant therapy and taking hormones for a year before his first gender reassignment surgery in 2010.

The first op was to remove his 36D breasts to create a man’s chest, something that led him to appear on TV with Eamon and Ruth Holmes.

The following year he had a penis made, his womb removed, and a testes pump system installed.

The “long and complicated process” was reported in The Sun newspaper as costing the NHS £60,000.

But Lee defends the expense as it ended the torment he suffered and it let him return to work and contribute back to the system.

Since the surgery was completed in 2012, Lee has not been with a woman, but true love could now be on the cards.

In February, he made contact with a woman in Yorkshire through Chat magazine. They have regularly between in touch, developing a strong bond and talking about future plans. A first date with the 36-year-old mum of two is imminent.

“To me it has blossomed into love, something I never felt, all the feeling involved in being the man I am today. It is like a proper love story. It has been five years since the completion and I have not physically got involved with any woman. Her heart is pounding just talking to me. I am a virgin so it’s all new to me.”

Since 2014, Lee has lived in Clacton to be close to his parents. He has a “fantastic support network in Tendring” and is a regular at the gym in Clacton Leisure Centre. He also enjoys swimming, boxing, exercise classes, dancing, weightlifting, soccer practice.

Through his beliefs in angels, which he promotes online, and leads him to give talks across the country, Lee’s support network is also global.

“I have received a positive outlook by people, not received any stigma. I feel many people see me as a role model, a mentor. People say I inspire them in many ways. I am constantly being asked out to social events. I feel the attitudes of today are a lot more accepting.”

Lee works as a supply teacher in Tendring and is also a part-time actor, recently appearing a film ‘Final Score’ with Pierce Brosnan, which will be released this year. A production company has approached him about making a documentary on him called “Born to Be a Boy.”

With his book just being released, Lee’s story looks set to go national and the Jeremy Kyle Show also seeks a repeat of his 2015 appearance.

Lee started his autobiography in 2011, but much travelling and university studies got in the way. A book launch was held in Edmonton earlier this month and now Lee is working on events for Clacton and Colchester.

As well looking at his gender dysphoria, the book also raises his beliefs in angels and spirituality, which he developed from 2008 and guided him to write his book. He sees himself as a lightworker, someone wanting to bring healing.

Lee added: “I had a calling, followed, that this is where I was meant to be and have been guided, that I have come here to help on the Earth, show positive light and love, bring positive change in the world as a role model, not just the issue of gender dysphoria and discuss all, as a lightworker.”