Shannon stays in care

Mar 19 2008 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SCHOOLGIRL Shannon Matthews will not be reunited with her family for some time.

The nine-year-old, who was at the centre of West Yorkshire’s biggest ever missing person hunt, is now in the care of Kirklees Family Services on a voluntary basis.

The news emerged as the man accused of kidnapping Shannon has been remanded in custody.

Michael Donovan, 39, appeared before Dewsbury Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with kidnap and false imprisonment.

It is alleged he took the nine-year-old schoolgirl on February 19 and held her against her will until she was found by police on March 14.

Donovan, dressed in a navy blue sweatshirt and dark grey trousers, looked weary and agitated throughout the seven-minute hearing.

He arrived in the dock handcuffed to one of three security officers who stood alongside him. A further two security officers stood outside the dock in the main court room.

Donovan, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, Dewsbury, sat down for much of the hearing.

He spoke only to confirm his name, age and address and sat motionless as the court clerk read out the two charges in full.

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

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

His solicitor, Malcolm Knowle, spoke on his behalf although there was no application for bail and no plea was entered.

Prosecutor Thomas Klouda requested the hearing be transferred to Leeds Crown Court, which was agreed by Richard Palfreeman, chairman of the magistrates’ bench.

Family and neighbours of Karen Matthews, Shannon’s mum, were in the public gallery at court two at the magistrates’ court.

Neil Hyett and his wife Amanda, the uncle of little Shannon, broke down in tears at the start of the proceedings but remained throughout.

They joined more than 30 journalists sitting inside the court, while dozens more photographers and camera crews waited outside the court.

Donovan was remanded in custody and will next appear at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday, March 25, via video link for a preliminary hearing.

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

The schoolgirl had been on a swimming trip with other pupils at Westmoor Junior School before she disappeared.

Police mounted a massive investigation involving more than 250 police officers and a team of 60 detectives to try to find her.

Donovan, formerly known as Paul Drake, was arrested last Friday, March 14, after the youngster was found hidden in a drawer of a bed at his flat.

He is the uncle of Shannon’s stepfather, Craig Meehan.

Donovan is scheduled to appear at Leeds Crown Court again on Wednesday, March 26.