Kidnapping of Shannon Matthews

Kidnapping of Shannon Matthews
Date19 February – 14 March 2008 (2008-02-19 – 2008-03-14)
LocationDewsbury, West Yorkshire, England
AccusedMichael Donovan
Karen Matthews
ChargesAbduction, false imprisonment (Donovan)
Child neglect, perverting the course of justice (Matthews)
Trial11 November – 4 December 2008 (2008-11-11 – 2008-12-04)
VerdictGuilty
ConvictionsAbduction, false imprisonment, perverting the course of justice
Sentence8 years

On 19 February 2008, nine-year-old Shannon Louise Matthews (born 9 September 1998) was reported missing in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England.[1] The search for her became a major missing person police operation which was compared to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.[2] Shannon was found alive and well on 14 March 2008 at a Batley Carr house belonging to 39-year-old Michael Donovan. Donovan was the uncle of Craig Meehan, the boyfriend of the kidnapped girl's mother, Karen Matthews.

The kidnapping was planned by Matthews and Donovan to generate money from the publicity. Donovan—also known as Paul Drake—was to have eventually "found" Shannon, taken her to a police station, and claimed the reward money, which would be split between Donovan and Matthews. Donovan was charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment.[3][4] Matthews was charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice on 8 April 2008. Their joint trial at Leeds Crown Court commenced on 11 November 2008[5] and concluded on 4 December with both defendants found guilty.[6] They were both given eight-year prison sentences.[7]

Meehan was convicted of possessing child pornography which was discovered on his computer during the investigation,[8] but had nothing to do with the kidnapping.[9] On 16 April 2024, Donovan died of cancer in hospital at the age of 54.[10]

  1. ^ Simpson, Mark (18 March 2008). "Shannon's complex family tree". BBC News. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Biggest search was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Missing schoolgirl 'found alive'". BBC News. 14 March 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  4. ^ Norfolk, Andrew (18 March 2008). "Michael Donovan is charged over Shannon Matthews kidnap and false imprisonment". The Times. London. Retrieved 18 March 2008.[dead link‍]
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference BBC16apr08 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Shannon Matthews' mother guilty of kidnapping own daughter". The Guardian. 4 December 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference sentenced was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Meehan convicted over child porn". BBC News. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  9. ^ Savage, Danny (16 September 2008). "Shannon hunt led to child porn find". BBC News. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  10. ^ Dalton, Jane (17 April 2024). "Shannon Matthews' kidnapper Michael Donovan who hid girl under bed dies from cancer". Independent. Retrieved 17 April 2024.