Megan Morrison said in court she was raped by grandfather Malcolm Harrison

He denied charges and was later found in a burning car in a suspected suicide

Miss Morrison bravely speaking out resulted in estrangement with grandmother

Now, after confiding in her mother Vanessa White and waiving her anonymity to speak out her ordeal, the teenager hopes to rekindle their 'strong relationship'

Megan Morrison, 17, gave evidence in court saying she was raped and sexually assaulted by her grandfather

A teenager whose grandfather killed himself during his trial after she accused him of rape has written a heartfelt letter to her grandmother asking for forgiveness.

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Megan Morrison, 17, gave evidence in court saying she was raped and sexually assaulted by her grandfather Malcolm Harrison, 74, between the ages of eight and 10.

He denied the charges and was later found dead in a burning car in a suspected suicide on the final day of his trial before he could be convicted of any offences.

But Miss Morrison, of Sinfin, Derby, stood by her story, which has resulted in an estrangement with her grandmother Vivienne Harrison, 62.

After bravely waiving her anonymity to speak out about her ordeal, the teenager says she hopes to rekindle her 'strong relationship' with her grandmother.

Communications broke down after the accusations were made and the pair still aren't talking despite numerous attempts from the teenager.

In the emotional note, Miss Morrison tells her grandmother: 'I still love you.'

In the hand-written letter she adds: 'Everything I said was true. I know it's hard to believe because he was your husband. I miss you so much....Please don't hate me.'

Malcolm Harrison (left) denied the charges and was later found dead in a burning car in a suspected suicide on the final day of his trial. Miss Morrison, of Sinfin, Derby, stood by her story, which has resulted in an estrangement with her grandmother (right)

After bravely waving her anonymity to speak out her ordeal, Miss Morrison (left as a child) hopes to rekindle her 'strong relationship' with her grandmother (right)

Miss Morrison, who works part-time at McDonald's while studying hair and beauty at college, said: 'I just want her back. We used to be have such a strong relationship.

'I have written nan a letter telling her that everything I told the police and said in court is true and that this did happen to me.

'I have told her in my letter that I know it is hard for her to believe because he was her husband and I didn't say anything because I didn't want to lose her.

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'I love my nan so much and I just want her to believe what happened to me and we can be friends again. I would take her back in a heartbeat.

'He would say to me 'don't tell your mum, this is our little secret'. But when I was 10 I told him if he didn't stop then I would tell someone and the abuse did stop then.'

Mother Vanessa White, who works as a nurse, added: 'When I found out about the allegations, she started crying down the phone saying she didn't want to lose her nan.

Miss Morrison pictured with her mother Vanessa White and step father Craig White at home in Sinfin, Derby

'I told her that we had got to do the right thing and we called the police.

'The reason we are doing this is because we want Megan to get her relationship back with her nan.

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'I don't care what my mum thinks about me, I just want her and Miss Morrison to be friends again.

'When she was born my mum used to help me with Miss Morrison.

'She was going on holidays with her, Miss Morrison used to do some baking with her - she used to do absolutely everything with her.

'After dad was arrested I called mum to say sorry but she just put the phone down.

'She hasn't spoken to me or Megan for a year.'

Harrison was found dead on the fifth and final day of his trial on June 30 at Derby Crown Court.

Police believed he doused his vehicle with petrol and set himself alight at Sinfin Moor car park.

Detective Inspector Richard Burton, of Derbyshire Police, told an inquest: 'Mr Harrison was currently part of a court case that was coming into its final day.

'He was the suspect in that court case and it was likely he would have received a custodial sentence (had he been convicted).

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'We also now know that he had previously said to his wife that week that he could not stand going to prison.'