Matthews faces court over 'abduction'

10:56am Friday 5th September 2008

The mother of Shannon Matthews and a 39-year-old man are to appear in court later to enter pleas in connection with the alleged abduction of the youngster.

Karen Matthews, 32, will appear alongside Michael Donovan at Leeds Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing.

Shannon disappeared on February 19 and was eventually discovered less than a mile from her home in Dewsbury Moor, 24 days after she went missing.

Donovan, of Lidgate Gardens, Dewsbury, was arrested on March 14 after the nine-year-old was found in nearby Batley Carr.

Formerly known as Paul Drake, he is the uncle of Shannon's stepfather, Craig Meehan.

Donovan is charged with two offences.

The first is that on February 19, in Dewsbury, he "unlawfully and by force or fraud, took away Shannon Matthews against her will".

The second is that between February 18 and March 15, he (at 26 Lidgate Gardens, Dewsbury) unlawfully and enduriously imprisoned Shannon Matthews and detained her against her will.

Matthews is charged with perverting the course of justice and child neglect.

Shannon vanished after going on a swimming trip. Police mounted a massive investigation involving hundreds of officers and she was eventually found in a drawer of a bed.

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