Kidnap mother and accomplice get eight years

THE mother of Shannon Matthews and her accomplice were jailed for eight years yesterday for kidnapping the schoolgirl in a case that sparked outrage across the country.

Karen Matthews, aged 33, from Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire, and Michael Donovan, age 40, were found guilty last month of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.

They were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court where the judge described their offences as “truly despicable”.