When Roy Meadow opens his mail these days, he is never sure whether it's an invite to appear on a hard-hitting current affairs programme, or to give a comment to the Press.

If it is such a request, the disabled former newsagent just puts it with the other correspondence so he can share the joke with his family.

For since the scandal over the wrongful conviction of Sally Clark, who was jailed for the murder of her two children.

In the case against Mrs Clarke, Sir Roy Meadow gave evidence stating that it was improbable that two babies from the same family could die of natural causes.

Roy has since been mistaken for the Professor at the centre of the controversy surrounding the case.

Sir Roy Meadow is 73 and lives in Weeton, near Harrogate, while his 52-year-old namesake lives in a council house in Cawder Road, Skipton.

Roy, 52, left school at 16 and went to work in Burtons in Manchester, has no degree and no skills in the medical profession, but that doesn't stop national newspapers and the television news crews seeking an interview.

"I've taken an interest in him ever since I got the first request when Mrs Clark was freed from prison," said Roy.

"I understand he lives in a big posh house in its own grounds. I've lived in this council house for the past 15 years.

"I've only been irritated once when I got a note through the door without any identification asking me to telephone a mobile number.

"I thought it might be important about the family so I did and it was a newspaper.

"I've had two letters from the current affairs department of Channel 4 claiming they were doing a documentary on the issue and promising it would be unbiased.

"There was also another which they said would be presented by Darcus Howe.

"I've mostly taken it in good faith and had a bit of a laugh, but I've often thought what would happen in I said yes and gave a comment."

The Court of Appeal this week found Sir Roy was not guilty of serious professional misconduct, despite the clearing of Mrs Clark when his evidence was found to be faulty.

The three judges also ruled that in future, expert witnesses should not be given immunity from disciplinary proceedings by their professional bodies.

Sir Roy was struck off for giving mistaken evidence, but that penalty was later quashed by the High Court. He has since retired.

The Medical Defence Union, which backs him, is considering whether to appeal to the House of Lords on the issue of expert witness immunity.

e-mail: clive.white@bradford.newsquest.co.uk