UK NEWS

SHANNON: MOTHER REMANDED IN CUSTODY

Karen Matthews leaves Dewsbury police station this morning

Wednesday April 9,2008

By Paul Jeeves and Geoff Marsh for express.co.uk

THE mother of Shannon Matthews was remanded in custody today after being charged in connection with the abduction of her daughter.

Karen Matthews, 32, was arrested on Sunday evening and was charged last night with perverting the course of justice and child neglect.

During the 13-minute hearing, Matthews was flanked by four dock officers.

Her red hair was brushed down and partially concealed her face.

Throughout the proceedings she looked at the district judge and only glanced at her friends near the end of the hearing as she was told she will be remanded in custody until April 16.

Wearing a blue sweatshirt, she was handcuffed as she was brought into the courtroom, which was packed with media, Moorside Road residents and police, as well as court officials and lawyers.

The first charge read out in court today was: “On a day between the 18th day of February 2008 and the 15th day of March 2008 at Dewsbury being a person who had attained the age of 16 years and having responsibility for Shannon Matthews, a child under that age, namely nine years, wilfully neglected or abandoned the said child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering to the said child or injury to her health.”

Shannon was found safe and well

The second charge was: “That you between the 18th day of February 2008 and the 15th day of March 2008 at Dewsbury, contrary to Common Law with intent to pervert the course of public justice, did a series of acts which had a tendency to pervert the course of public justice in that you repeatedly concealed information in relation to the whereabouts of Shannon Matthews in interviews and other contacts with officers with the West Yorkshire Police and claimed to have no knowledge of her whereabouts.”

Earlier Matthews, of Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire, was led out of Dewsbury police station in handcuffs and was then driven the short distance into the back of the town’s magistrates’ court.

More than a dozen police officers were stationed outside the vehicle entrance to the court as the white prison vehicle entered the complex.

Shannon was found in the base of a bed at an address just a mile from her home after a 24-day police search.

Her discovery followed a huge search which began after Matthews reported her daughter missing on February 19 when she did not return from school.

A massive search operation began, which involved more than 300 officers.

Matthews is the latest family member to be arrested in connection with her daughter’s disappearance.

Michael Donovan, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, was arrested on March 14, after Shannon was found in his flat.

He was later charged with Shannon’s kidnap and false imprisonment and is in custody awaiting trial at Leeds Crown Court on November 11.

The 39-year-old, formerly known as Paul Drake, is the uncle of Matthews’ partner Craig Meehan.