WHEN Paul Race was arrested for the brutal rape of a 30-year-old woman in the North-East town where he lives, his family always maintained his innocence.

Yesterday, his parents spoke for the first time of the torment that started when police arrested their son at their home in Shildon, County Durham.

His mother, Elsie, from Coronation Avenue, said: "Paul always believed he would come home because he had not done it. Then, on the Monday night, it was on the television saying he had been charged.

"He was named, shamed and blamed without any real evidence and we were devastated. Yet the lad who has done it has had his identity protected because of his age.''

Father of one Mr Race, 24, went on to serve three weeks on remand in Holme House Prison, Stockton, before being bailed to a friend's home in Wigham.

He was under strict bail conditions, until his case was thrown out of court in September last year when DNA evidence proved that police had arrested the wrong man.

Mrs Race said: "He was away from home and his family for five months. Yes he was with good friends, but he needed his family.''

Mrs Race poured over evidence night after night trying to find a way of getting her son home and the pressure led to her taking time of work. She said: "I was constantly sick. I could not keep anything down and I did not eat or sleep for weeks.

"To be fair, the police have a job to do and I respect that. They just did not get it right this time. We are angry. They have not even apologised.

"This has turned our lives upside down. Not just ours but his partner, Joanne, and her family, his friends, his aunts and uncles and brothers and sister. It affected us all.

His father, Keith, said: "They say Paul was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yes he was drinking in the pub that night, but he came home.''

The couple said the only consolation from it all was that the community of Shildon stood by them.

Mrs Race said: "Everybody who knows Paul knew he had not done it. We had people coming to the door and bringing us cards. We had a lot of support.''

They are now hoping that their son, a roofer, who works away from home, can rebuild his life.

His father was in court to hear Hudson sentenced. He said: "Justice has been served, but life should mean life.

"He should not get parole in six years just because of his age.''