IT was a terrible, tragic miscarriage of justice.

Molly Gee is convinced her disabled son Darryl's wrongful conviction for rape cost him his life and also led to her husband's death.

The last seven years have been a nightmare for her - but she has been determined to get justice and spent over £60,000 battling to clear Darryl's name.

Darryl died aged 55 in Armley Prison in Leeds just a month after his second appeal against his wrongful conviction was turned down.

That failed appeal also led to his father Kenneth's descent into depression. He died seven months later.

Molly, now 88, said: "That conviction cost both their lives. I lost my only son and my husband.

"It's been terrible, absolutely appalling."

Both Darryl and Kenneth are buried at Lindley Parish Church, where all three were regular attenders.

But Molly does not go there any more.

She just can't face going. Her faith has been shattered by what happened.

The family's nightmare began at 7.30am on January 13, 1999, when police called at their Lindley home and arrested Darryl on suspicion of a rape dating back to 1989.

After a day of questioning he was released. But he was barred from teaching until the case was over - and the case did not come to court for a further two years.

Darryl was convicted of rape and indecent assault by a jury's majority verdict after a week-long trial at Leeds Crown Court in January, 2001.

Molly said: "The trial was an absolute farce. There was no corroborating evidence. It was just her word against Darryl's."

Molly and Kenneth left the court stunned with two long-term friends.

They went straight to Leeds railway station - and that's where the amazing inner strength which has kept Molly going through the next seven years started.

She said: "All three were crying. I just knew then that I'd have to be strong, if only for their sakes."

Darryl was born in September, 1948, but about six months later his parents realised there was something wrong.

He could not sit up without being supported by cushions.

He was in and out of hospital and X-rays revealed he had 11 ribs on one side of his body and 13 on the other, with one protruding into his neck.

All were displaced, which resulted in a double curvature of the spine. It was deemed to dangerous to operate on.

Molly said: "I'd always dreamed of having four boys, but once we realised Darryl was disabled we were too busy caring for him.

"He was finally diagnosed as `high grade spastic.'

"As he grew older his disabilities became more obvious. He could not perform any task which required both hands working in co-ordination.

"He could not open tin lids and the protruding rib meant he could not turn his neck to the left.

"His sense of balance was also poor and he could easily be pushed over.

"All these disabilities meant there was no way he could have committed the offences he was said to have done. It was just not possible."

Once in prison Darryl had to be moved to a cell on ground level, after warders realised he could not walk up the stairs and hold a food tray at the same time.

The offences are supposed to have happened at a Huddersfield school when Darryl was a music teacher.

His accuser was aged 10 or 11 at the time the offences were supposed to have happened.

Mrs Gee said: "The 25-minute lessons were held at 9.30 in the morning, in either an unlocked classroom or a staff room, when anyone could have walked in at any time.

"The allegations were ludicrous."

As a boy Darryl went to Paddock Infants and Junior School. He had a rare gift for music and was singing before he could walk.

He went on to study at music schools in Huddersfield and Manchester.

He won both baritone and bass singing classes at the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival in Huddersfield and was also an excellent trumpet, cornet and trombone player.

He played them all because the co-ordination was between the mouth and just one hand. Darryl played in music groups supporting amateur operatic societies across Huddersfield.

Molly is a founder member of Lindley Amateurs and is a former producer with Huddersfield Amateur Operatic Society, where Kenneth was musical director.

The couple met through church when they were 16, married in 1942 and had just had their diamond wedding before Kenneth's death.

But there was no celebration, because Darryl was in prison.

After finishing his education, Darryl worked as a music teacher in Halifax and Huddersfield, working mostly in schools.

He had taught hundreds of youngsters over the years, but none had ever made any complaints against him - apart from the girl who became his accuser in court.

Molly said: "Darryl had a great faith both in God and the British judicial system.

"He was always convinced he would be cleared, but when a second appeal was rejected in July 2002 it finished him.

"We only saw him twice more. The last time he looked yellow and complained of pains in his side so I asked the staff at Armley to make sure he was seen by a doctor."

But Darryl died in his sleep two days later - on August 27, 2002 - with undiagnosed cancer found in his blood.

Molly said that immediately after Darryl's conviction she and Kenneth were worried about going out.

Their fears were groundless.

"Everyone who knew Darryl was fantastic," she said. "Never once did we hear a word against him. Friends, neighbours and relatives were all sure he was innocent."

Even Darryl's cellmate quickly came to realise he could not have committed the crimes and still regularly visits Molly.

The man, who has spent his life in and out of prison, was so inspired by Darryl he has turned to religion.

"Darryl lived in fear in prison at first because of the rape conviction," said Molly. "But the other inmates changed their minds when they got to know him and realised he could not be guilty."

Now Molly wants to see a change in the law.

"I don't want this to happen to anyone else," she said. "I do not think that any man should be jailed for an offence such as this on uncorroborated evidence.

"This itself is not compatible with being guilty beyond reasonable doubt and there are other men in prison who have been falsely accused.

"I'm a very angry lady - and will be until I die."

* Darryl's barrister, Malcolm Swift QC, wrote Molly and Kenneth this letter when he heard of Darryl's death:

"I was distressed to learn of the tragic death of your son. Not only have you been terribly badly served by the legal system, but you have, as a direct consequence, lost your son.

"In my opinion, Darryl bore adversity with considerable dignity. His health and his situation would have caused bitterness in most men.

"He demonstrated at all times quiet resolve and faith in the system of justice which, in the end, failed him.

"It may be some small consolation to you both to know that those of us who met him and knew his case well knew that he was falsely accused and wrongly convicted."