KAREN Matthews’ chilling remark at a chippy was when her evil plot to kidnap her own daughter started to unravel.
The mum, from Dewsbury, Yorkshire, was dubbed Britain’s worst mother after engineering the scheme to kidnap nine-year-old Shannon.
PA:Press AssociationKaren Matthews holding her daughter’s favourite teddy bear as she made an emotional appeal for her safe return in 2008[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationThe mum, from Dewsbury, Yorkshire, was dubbed Britain’s worst mother after engineering the scheme to kidnap nine-year-old Shannon[/caption]
Prime VideoNeighbour Petra Jamieson revealed how casually Matthews spoke about her daughter’s kidnap ordeal[/caption]
Along with Michael Donovan, the uncle of her then-partner, she drugged and tethered the little girl to a bed in a bid to collect reward money.
In 2008, hundreds of neighbours and friends desperately searched for Shannon, with Matthews appearing on TV to sob and plea for her daughter to come home.
Shannon had vanished on her way home from a swimming lesson in her hometown.
She was discovered 24 days later in a shock twist, stunning the nation when it was revealed her mum had planned the scheme to claim a £50,000 reward.
More than 250 officers and 60 detectives were involved in the search with cops quizzing 1,500 motorists and searching 3,000 addresses before she was finally found in Michael Donovan’s grotty flat.
Shannon had been sedated with temazepam for up to 20 months before her ‘kidnap’ and had a list of rules on how to behave to avoid being detected.
In a new Prime Video documentary, neighbour Petra Jamieson revealed how Matthews’ unusual behaviour first raised suspicions.
Only two weeks after Shannon had been found – when Matthews’ role was not yet known – she went to a fish and chips shop with Petra.
Appearing on The Hunt for Shannon Matthews, Petra revealed how Matthews had a heartless reaction to being given free food out of sympathy.
She said: “She looked at me and just said she should ‘get rid of one of my kids more often’.
“At the time, I just slapped her on the side of the arm… ‘Why would you say that?’”
She told the documentary that the entire community had been “bouncing around” when Shannon was finally found.
And so she was unable to shake an odd feeling after Matthews’ callous remark.
Petra said she noticed her friend liked the “attention” of the media coverage her daughter’s plight had brought.
“She liked the fact that she could go into town, and everyone recognised her. People had sympathy for her and compassion, giving her hugs,” she said.
But despite this, she never suspected Matthews was involved and couldn’t believe that a parent could do such a thing when it came to light.
The nine-year-old was found tethered and drugged inside the base of a double bed at relative Michael Donovan’s flat almost a month after she disappeared.
An elasticated strap with a noose on the end was found in his loft and may have been used as a method of restraint when he went out.
With it around her waist, Shannon would have been able to use the toilet and certain rooms, but not get out of the flat.
After Shannon was found alive she was put into police protection – and the High Court granted her lifelong anonymity.
She was given a new identity and went to live with a new family.
On December 4, 2008, mum-of-seven Karen and Donovan were found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.
Both were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to eight years behind bars.
Matthews, who has been dubbed Britain’s Most Hated Mum, was released from prison in April 2012 after serving half her sentence.
The evil mother has since claimed she is not “Britain’s worst mum” citing the fact that she didn’t kill anybody and claimed “Baby P’s mum and Maxine Carr don’t get the abuse I do”.
Meanwhile, Donovan had alleged she had threatened to burn his house down if he did not go through with the twisted kidnap.
He died in April last year after collapsing at a hospital in Keighley, West Yorkshire.
Police HandoutThe base of a bed where Shannon was discovered[/caption]
HandoutDonovan died in April last year after collapsing at a hospital[/caption]
Timeline of the Shannon Matthews kidnap plot
A look at the events that unfolded following the disappearance of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews:
February 19, 2008 – Shannon Matthews disappears and was last spotted outside Westmoor Junior School, Dewsbury.
February 19, 2008 – Police announce that they have started a massive search involving more than 200 officers as concern grows for the missing girl.
March 1, 2008 – Karen Matthews issues an emotional appeal for Shannon’s return on the eve of Mother’s Day.
March 5, 2008 – Police release a recording of part of the 999 call Matthews made reporting Shannon missing.
March 14, 2008 – Shannon is found alive and hidden in the base of a divan bed at a house at Michael Donovan’s house in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire.
April 9, 2008 – Karen Matthews is charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice over her daughter’s disappearance – new charges of Kidnap and false imprisonment were later added.
December 4, 2008 – Matthews and Donovan are found guilty of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice and both sentenced to eight years behind bars.
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