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Missing Shannon 'drugged' in flat Missing Shannon 'drugged' in flat
(10 minutes later)
Missing schoolgirl Shannon Matthews had been drugged and subdued in the flat where she was found, a court has heard. Missing schoolgirl Shannon Matthews had been drugged and tethered in the flat where she was found, a court has heard.
Shannon's mother, Karen Matthews, and Michael Donovan are on trial over the nine-year-old's disappearance in West Yorkshire in February this year.Shannon's mother, Karen Matthews, and Michael Donovan are on trial over the nine-year-old's disappearance in West Yorkshire in February this year.
They deny kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.They deny kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.
Leeds Crown Court heard the plan had been for Mr Donovan to eventually release Shannon and "find" her in a local market and claim reward money.Leeds Crown Court heard the plan had been for Mr Donovan to eventually release Shannon and "find" her in a local market and claim reward money.
Prosecutor Julian Goose, QC, told the court Ms Matthews, 33, had raised the alarm about her daughter's disappearance on 19 February. Prosecutor Julian Goose, QC, said officers who found the youngster also found a set of written rules restricting her movements in the flat.
He said it was part of a "wicked and dishonest plan" to kidnap the girl by her mother and the man whose flat she was found in. Medical tests revealed she had been fed temazepam tablets and travel sickness pills to subdue her during the 24 days she was incarcerated.
Ms Matthews was widely seen on television making impassioned pleas for her daughter's safe return - but all the time she knew exactly what had happened to the girl, the court heard. And a looped strap tied to a roof beam had been used to restrain Shannon, allowing her limited access around the flat when Mr Donovan went out.
Mr Goose added that Mr Donovan kept Shannon "drugged, subdued and hidden from the public" and bought newspapers which described the extent of the investigation. Police who called at Mr Donovan's flat looking for Shannon initially got no answer, but neighbours said he was in, and they had heard a child.
The court heard that their plan had been to claim the £50,000 reward money put up by the press for the youngster's return. Shannon was found inside one half of the base of a double bed and Mr Donovan in the other half.
Mr Donovan later told police the plan was to release Shannon in Dewsbury market and for Donovan to "discover her". Opening the case, Mr Goose told the court Ms Matthews, 33, had raised the alarm about her daughter's disappearance on 19 February.
Ms Matthews, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and Mr Donovan, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, deny the charges. He said it was part of a "wicked and dishonest plan" to kidnap the girl devised by her mother and Mr Donovan.
Ms Matthews was widely seen on television making impassioned pleas for her daughter's safe return - but all the time she knew exactly where she was, the court heard.
Mr Goose added that Mr Donovan had tricked Shannon into his car on her way home from a school swimming trip.
He then kept Shannon "drugged, subdued and hidden from the public" and bought newspapers featuring the investigation.The prosecution said Karen Matthews took part in a "wicked" plan
The court heard that the pair plotted to claim the £50,000 reward money put up by the press for the youngster's return.
Mr Donovan later told police the plan was to release Shannon in Dewsbury market and he would then "discover her".
The disappearance of Shannon, now 10, became one of the highest-profile missing person inquiries ever seen in the UK.The disappearance of Shannon, now 10, became one of the highest-profile missing person inquiries ever seen in the UK.
The prosecution said Karen Matthews took part in a "wicked" plan The court heard the cost of the search, the biggest-ever conducted by West Yorkshire Police involving 300 officers, was almost £3.2m.
After tricking Shannon into his car on her way home from a school swimming trip, Mr Donovan kept her in his flat and watched as the search unfolded and the reward money climbed, Mr Goose told the jury. Within a half-mile radius of where Shannon was last seen, 1,800 premises were searched and extensive house-to-house inquiries were conducted.
As the days went by more and more police were drafted in to the search which became the biggest-ever conducted by West Yorkshire Police.
"They were responding to Karen Matthew's wicked and dishonest lie," he added.
The court heard the cost of the search to the police was almost £3.2m.
At its height, the search involved more than 300 police officers and even more members of the public.
Within a half-mile radius of where Shannon was last seen, 1,800 premises were searched and extensive house-to-house inquiries were conducted at many more.
Three-quarters of all the UK's specially-trained police dogs were brought in to assist in the search.Three-quarters of all the UK's specially-trained police dogs were brought in to assist in the search.
More than 800 CCTV tapes and computer hard drives were examined and 41 other areas were searched outside the half-mile radius of Moorside Road, including operations in Cumbria and Nottinghamshire.More than 800 CCTV tapes and computer hard drives were examined and 41 other areas were searched outside the half-mile radius of Moorside Road, including operations in Cumbria and Nottinghamshire.
"Karen Matthews even gave deliberately misleading lines of inquiry to the police," Mr Goose told the court."Karen Matthews even gave deliberately misleading lines of inquiry to the police," Mr Goose told the court.
Mr Goose said she even gave officers one address where she said she had been told by a clairvoyant that Shannon might be found.Mr Goose said she even gave officers one address where she said she had been told by a clairvoyant that Shannon might be found.
Ms Matthews, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and Mr Donovan, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, deny all the charges.
The case continues.The case continues.