Documentary to look at horrific disappearance of Shannon Matthews in Dewsbury and what happened to those involved

The disappearance and kidnapping of West Yorkshire schoolgirl Shannon Matthews is to be the focus of a new documentary this week.
Police officers at the house of Michael Donovan, where Shannon Matthews was found more than three weeks after she was reported missingPolice officers at the house of Michael Donovan, where Shannon Matthews was found more than three weeks after she was reported missing
Police officers at the house of Michael Donovan, where Shannon Matthews was found more than three weeks after she was reported missing

The Dewsbury Moor estate was thrust into national headlines 13 years ago after Karen Matthews reported her daughter Shannon missing.

Thousands joined in the search for the nine-year-old girl who had not come home from school on February 19, and the operation quickly became the biggest missing person's search West Yorkshire Police had ever undertaken - and the biggest investigation overall since Peter Sutcliffe.

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National tabloid The Sun offered a £20,000 reward for information which would lead to Shannon being found, and a country's anticipation erupted into celebrations when she was discovered on March 14 at a house in Batley Carr where 39-year-old Michael Donovan was residing.

Karen MatthewsKaren Matthews
Karen Matthews

But people's joy quickly turned to confusion and later to horror as it transpired the schoolgirl's kidnapping had been masterminded and coerced by Karen Matthews herself in a plan to get her hands on a £50,000 reward sum.

The mother was later charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice in April that year, while Donovan, who was the uncle of Matthews' partner Craig Meehan, was charged with kidnap and false imprisonment.

Meehan was also later charged with possessing child abuse images after detectives seized computer equipment from the house.

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Matthews and Donovan were both found guilty of Shannon's kidnap, false imprisonment and of perverting the course of justice at Leeds Crown Court in December that year, and were both jailed for eight years the following month.

West Yorkshire Police during the search for Shannon Matthews in DewsburyWest Yorkshire Police during the search for Shannon Matthews in Dewsbury
West Yorkshire Police during the search for Shannon Matthews in Dewsbury

Shannon Matthews herself now lives under a new identity and was last year granted lifelong anonymity under a High Court ruling.

The story has previously been the subject of a drama series starring Sheridan Smith and Gemma Whelan called The Moorside, which aired on ITV in 2017.

A documentary re-telling the story and showing never-before-seen footage is to air on Channel 5 this week, looking at what happened in the days, months and years after the schoolgirl was found concealed in a divan bed in Donovan's house.

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The two-part programme will feature interviews with those privy to the case at the time, including a previous school friend of Shannon's.

The first part of The Disappearance of Shannon Matthews will air on Channel 5 on Wednesday, February 10, at 10pm.