Mother of Shannon Matthew's charged with kidnap

The mother of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews, who went missing for 24 days earlier this year, has been charged with her kidnap and false imprisonment, a court in the UK heard today.

Karen Matthews, 32, had previously been accused of perverting the course of justice and child neglect.

The extra charges were revealed today during a plea hearing at Leeds Crown Court.

Matthews appeared in court along with Michael Donovan, 39, who was already charged with nine-year-old Shannon’s kidnap and false imprisonment.

He will now also face a charge of perverting the course of justice, the court heard.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice charges.

No plea was entered for the child neglect charge.

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

Donovan was arrested on March 14 after the schoolgirl was found in nearby Batley Carr.

Formerly known as Paul Drake, he is the uncle of Shannon’s stepfather, Craig Meehan. Shannon vanished after going on a swimming trip.

Police in the UK mounted a massive investigation involving hundreds of officers and a team of 60 detectives to try to find her.

She was eventually found in a drawer of a bed.