Officers stated that they were “gravely concerned” for her safety. The plan had been for Donovan to release Shannon at Dewsbury Market, drive around the corner to ‘discover her,’ then take her to a police station and claim the £50,000 reward. The family liaison officer assigned to the case, Detective Constable Christine Freeman, was one of those people.Detective Constable Freeman wasn’t the only one to suspect something unusual was at play; Karen’s close friend, Natalie, also began to doubt the authenticity of her friend’s story.“Karen came to stay at my house and when the TV cameras weren’t around I realized that it was as if she didn’t care. In cross-examination, Julian Goose QC said that she had told police a total of five versions of the story and accused her of "telling lie after lie, after lie". Michael Donovan, 48, showed little remorse regarding his role in the elaborate hoax kidnapping of the nine-year-old schoolgirl from West Yorkshire in 2008, in letters written from jail. This would be split between Donovan and Karen On 23rd January 2009.Craig Meehan was convicted of possessing child pornography, which was discovered on his computer during the investigation, but had nothing to do with the kidnapping. Michael Donovan was freed on licence after serving half his eight-year sentence for the kidnap and false imprisonment of nine-year-old ShannonTHE “creepy fantasist” jailed for kidnapping Shannon Matthews is out of prison.Michael Donovan, 44, was freed on licence after serving half his eight-year sentence for the kidnap and false imprisonment of nine-year-old Shannon.It is believed his accomplice, Shannon’s shamed mum Karen Matthews, 36, will also be released from prison in a matter of days.A huge police hunt was launched after Shannon went missing in February 2008.But it was later revealed Donovan snatched Shannon and kept her drugged and tethered to a bed for 24 days at his home in Batley Carr, West Yorks, as part of a plot to claim a £50,000 reward.Donovan, the uncle of Karen’s boyfriend Craig Meehan, was released from Wakefield Prison yesterday.During his trial he was described as a “creepy fantasist” and was said to have an IQ so low he is classed as mentally impaired.When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. When the Visitors arrived, Donovan was in El Salvador with his sound man, Tony Leonetti. Shannon was found in Donovan's flat in Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, in the base of a divan bed. She is now 19 years old, and there is a special order in place preventing anyone from contacting her.Karen’s other children – she’s reported to have seven (including Shannon) by five different fathers – were also taken into care and given new identities.
Police also discovered a long strap knotted to a roof beam at one end of the flat with a large loop dangling at the other.This was used to restrain Shannon during more than three weeks of captivity.The court was told the ordeal left Shannon 'disturbed and traumatised' and suffering from nightmares.The officer who led the inquiry, Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan, said at the time of her conviction that Matthews had 'totally betrayed' her daughter, and condemned her as 'pure evil'. Click here to resize this module The whole country was gripped by the story, hoping she would be found safe, as soon as possible.A few days after her disappearance, police detectives revealed that Shannon had expressed a wish to leave home and had scribbled a note on her bedroom wall which said she wanted to see her biological father more frequently. Kidnapper Michael Donovan, 48, claims he was simply 'looking after' Shannon Matthews Karen Matthews (right) was convicted alongside Donovan and jailed for eight years for her part in the kidnapping hoax of her nine-year-old daughter, Shannon, in 2008Karen Matthews made an emotional plea to the public for her daughter's safe return, but was later convicted for her part in a scheme with Donovan to claim £50,000 reward moneyShannon Matthews was forced to adhere to a strict list of rules, which were signed off with 'IPU', which the jury was told stood for 'I promise you', a threat Karen used against Shannon
