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23/01/2009
Karen Matthews Jailed Over Shannon Kidnap
The mother of an eight-year-old girl, who was kidnapped in a plot to claim reward money, has been sentenced to eight years in prison.
Karen Matthews, 33, and her co-accused, 40, were earlier found guilty of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the court of justice.
Donovan, her former partner's uncle, was also jailed for eight years.
Shannon Matthews was discovered in Donovan's flat in Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, 24 days after she was reported missing in February last year.
The Judge, Mr Justice McCombe described the offences as "truly despicable", adding he didn't believe Matthews and Donovan could have carried out the kidnap without the assistance of other people.
He added that he would not draw a distinction between the two of them in their sentences.
Judge McComb said: "In my judgment, their culpability is the same. In saying that, having regard to their low intellect, as emerged in evidence at trial and in the pre-sentence reports, it must be doubtful whether they could have conceived or continued these offences without the assistance or connivance of others.
"The pre-sentence report in Matthews' case comments that neither defendant seems to have the cognitive ability to devise and orchestrate such an elaborate offence with any degree of likelihood of success."
The Judge added that although Shannon was not physically harmed during her time at Donovan's flat, her experience must have been "highly disturbing".
He stated that the nine-year-old was "disturbed and traumatised and frightened" after her ordeal.
Shannon, now aged 10, went missing after she walked home from school near her home in Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire Police launched a massive search operation costing almost £3.2 million.
On 14 March, Shannon was discovered in the base of a divan bed in Donovan's flat in Batley Carr, less than a mile from her home.
The court heard the pair had conspired to keep the schoolgirl imprisoned in a ploy to claim £50,000 reward money, offered by a national newspaper.
(JM/BMcC)
Karen Matthews, 33, and her co-accused, 40, were earlier found guilty of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the court of justice.
Donovan, her former partner's uncle, was also jailed for eight years.
Shannon Matthews was discovered in Donovan's flat in Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, 24 days after she was reported missing in February last year.
The Judge, Mr Justice McCombe described the offences as "truly despicable", adding he didn't believe Matthews and Donovan could have carried out the kidnap without the assistance of other people.
He added that he would not draw a distinction between the two of them in their sentences.
Judge McComb said: "In my judgment, their culpability is the same. In saying that, having regard to their low intellect, as emerged in evidence at trial and in the pre-sentence reports, it must be doubtful whether they could have conceived or continued these offences without the assistance or connivance of others.
"The pre-sentence report in Matthews' case comments that neither defendant seems to have the cognitive ability to devise and orchestrate such an elaborate offence with any degree of likelihood of success."
The Judge added that although Shannon was not physically harmed during her time at Donovan's flat, her experience must have been "highly disturbing".
He stated that the nine-year-old was "disturbed and traumatised and frightened" after her ordeal.
Shannon, now aged 10, went missing after she walked home from school near her home in Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire Police launched a massive search operation costing almost £3.2 million.
On 14 March, Shannon was discovered in the base of a divan bed in Donovan's flat in Batley Carr, less than a mile from her home.
The court heard the pair had conspired to keep the schoolgirl imprisoned in a ploy to claim £50,000 reward money, offered by a national newspaper.
(JM/BMcC)
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04 December 2008
Shannon's Mum Guilty Over Kidnap
Karen Matthews has today been found guilty of kidnap offences relating to the high-profile disappearance of her daughter Shannon. Ms Matthews, 33, and her co-accused 40-year-old Michael Donovan were convicted of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.
Shannon's Mum Guilty Over Kidnap
Karen Matthews has today been found guilty of kidnap offences relating to the high-profile disappearance of her daughter Shannon. Ms Matthews, 33, and her co-accused 40-year-old Michael Donovan were convicted of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.
17 November 2008
Shannon Trial Halted After Assault
The trial of the 40-year-old man accused of kidnapping Shannon Matthews has been adjourned for one day, while he recovers from a prison attack. Michael Donovan, along with Shannon's 33-year-old mother Karen Matthews, is standing trial for allegedly kidnapping and falsely imprisoning the schoolgirl.
Shannon Trial Halted After Assault
The trial of the 40-year-old man accused of kidnapping Shannon Matthews has been adjourned for one day, while he recovers from a prison attack. Michael Donovan, along with Shannon's 33-year-old mother Karen Matthews, is standing trial for allegedly kidnapping and falsely imprisoning the schoolgirl.
12 November 2008
Shannon Kidnapped In 'Dishonest And Wicked' Plan
Shannon Matthews was drugged and kidnapped as part of a "dishonest and wicked plan" by her mother and the man whose flat she was found in, a court has heard. The nine-year-old schoolgirl's mother Karen Matthews, and Michael Donovan appeared at Leeds Crown Court today in relation to her disappearance in West Yorkshire earlier this year.
Shannon Kidnapped In 'Dishonest And Wicked' Plan
Shannon Matthews was drugged and kidnapped as part of a "dishonest and wicked plan" by her mother and the man whose flat she was found in, a court has heard. The nine-year-old schoolgirl's mother Karen Matthews, and Michael Donovan appeared at Leeds Crown Court today in relation to her disappearance in West Yorkshire earlier this year.
16 April 2008
Shannon's Mother To Stand Trial Over Her Abduction
The mother of Shannon Matthews is to stand trial in November in relation to the alleged abduction of the schoolgirl. Karen Matthews, 32, of Dewsbury in Yorkshire, appeared at Leeds Crown Court via videolink on Wednesday.
Shannon's Mother To Stand Trial Over Her Abduction
The mother of Shannon Matthews is to stand trial in November in relation to the alleged abduction of the schoolgirl. Karen Matthews, 32, of Dewsbury in Yorkshire, appeared at Leeds Crown Court via videolink on Wednesday.
05 September 2008
Shannon's Mum Faces Fresh Charges
The mother of Shannon Matthews, the girl who went 'missing' for several weeks earlier this year, has been charged with her kidnap and false imprisonment. These new charges were revealed as Karen Matthews appeared at Leeds Crown Court.
Shannon's Mum Faces Fresh Charges
The mother of Shannon Matthews, the girl who went 'missing' for several weeks earlier this year, has been charged with her kidnap and false imprisonment. These new charges were revealed as Karen Matthews appeared at Leeds Crown Court.
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