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Man in court over Shannon kidnap Man remanded over Shannon kidnap
(about 7 hours later)
A man is due to appear in court charged with the kidnap and false imprisonment of Shannon Matthews. A man has appeared in court charged with the kidnap and false imprisonment of Shannon Matthews.
Michael Donovan, 39, of Lidgate Gardens, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, is accused of taking the nine-year-old schoolgirl on February 19. Michael Donovan, 39, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, is accused of taking the nine-year-old schoolgirl on 19 February.
The youngster was discovered less than a mile from her home in Dewsbury on Friday, 24 days after she went missing on the way home from school.The youngster was discovered less than a mile from her home in Dewsbury on Friday, 24 days after she went missing on the way home from school.
Mr Donovan will appear before magistrates in Dewsbury later. Mr Donovan was remanded in custody until 25 March by Dewsbury magistrates.
Shannon was found at a flat in the Dewsbury area of West Yorkshire by police last Friday. There was no application for bail made by Mr Donovan's solicitor, Malcolm Knowle.
'Assessing evidence' Mr Donovan will next appear via video link at Leeds Crown Court.
Peter Mann, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) West and North Yorkshire complex case unit, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has been working closely with the police in connection with this case since the arrest of Michael Donovan, formerly known as Paul Drake, on Friday March 14. The defendant is charged with two offences, unlawfully kidnapping the schoolgirl and imprisoning her against her will.
"As the case has developed we have been carefully examining and assessing the evidence in order to come to a charging decision at the earliest possible opportunity. Mr Donovan is the uncle of Shannon's stepfather Craig Meehan, 22.
"Having carefully considered all of the material supplied by West Yorkshire Police, we have made the decision that there is sufficient evidence and have authorised that Michael Donovan should be charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment. It is believed Shannon is now in the care of Kirklees Family Services on a voluntary basis.
"We will continue to keep this case under constant review as it develops." She will not be going home for some time while West Yorkshire Police continue the investigation.
About 60 detectives are still assigned to the case.