THE man who kidnapped Shannon Matthews is pretending to be Madonna in a desperate bid to get moved from his tough jail, it was claimed.

Reports say Michael Donovan has taken to dancing like the pop star and singing her hit Vogue at the top of his voice.

Prison sources believe the 43-year-old is trying to get himself attacked so bosses have no choice but to move him from Wakefield jail.

The prison houses some of Britain’s most dangerous murderers, rapists and thugs.

A prison source said: “He dances around like a lunatic and is doing his very own version of Madonna’s Vogue.

“Staff are convinced he is doing to get a move to a secure mental hospital where he would get better conditions.

“But a warning has been issued about his behaviour. Warders have to be robust in their dealings with him.”

Donovan’s has allegedly been subjected to a series of threats from the hardened criminals who surround him.

An insider said some very violent cons are “out to get him”. On one occasion he was running around his cell at 1.30am screaming and refusing to calm down. The source said he was keeping prisoners awake but seemed oblivious and “in his own world”.

He is said to make “child-like noises and odd gestures” while dancing and singing Madonna’s hit.

Donovan has already been moved several times because of his behaviour. He got eight years for kidnapping his nine-year-old niece Shannon and keeping her tethered to a bed for 24 days at his home in Batley Carr.

The snatch was part of a sick bid with the youngster’s mother, Karen Matthews, of Moorside, Dewsbury, to claim a £50,000 reward for her safe return.

Matthews was also locked up for eight years.

Donovan had to be moved to his previous jail, Armley in Leeds, after being beaten while held on remand. But he was attacked again and left with a fractured jaw.

Last year it emerged he had taken to “chomping like a camel” as he sat opposite relatives in Wakefield’s visiting area.

It is claimed Donovan was given pills for depression after taunts from prisoners about him being the “hide and seek world record holder” – a vile reference to the kidnapping.