This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7749971.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Shannon kidnap 'was family plot' Family plot claim in Shannon case
(about 5 hours later)
A man accused of kidnapping Shannon Matthews has denied being part of a family plot to benefit from the reward for the youngster's return.A man accused of kidnapping Shannon Matthews has denied being part of a family plot to benefit from the reward for the youngster's return.
Michael Donovan and Shannon's mother Karen Matthews, 33, deny several charges over the girl's disappearance.Michael Donovan and Shannon's mother Karen Matthews, 33, deny several charges over the girl's disappearance.
Mr Donovan, 40, of Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, denied claims at Leeds Crown Court that he, his sister, nephew and niece were behind the scam.Mr Donovan, 40, of Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, denied claims at Leeds Crown Court that he, his sister, nephew and niece were behind the scam.
He also denied claims by Ms Matthews' lawyer that he was the plot ringleader. He also denied claims by Ms Matthews's lawyer that he was the plot ringleader.
Karen Matthews' barrister Frances Oldham QC said Mr Donovan planned the kidnap with his sister Alice Meehan and niece Amanda Hyett. Ms Matthews's barrister Frances Oldham QC said Mr Donovan planned the kidnap with his sister Alice Meehan and niece Amanda Hyett.
He denied this but said he did not know if Craig Meehan - his nephew and Ms Matthews' partner - was involved. He denied this but said he did not know if Craig Meehan - his nephew and Ms Matthews's partner - was involved.
Ms Oldham said: "You, Mr Donovan, and members of your family made this plan?"Ms Oldham said: "You, Mr Donovan, and members of your family made this plan?"
Mr Donovan denied the allegation and, in reference to telephone calls, claimed Karen Matthews had used his sister's phone.Mr Donovan denied the allegation and, in reference to telephone calls, claimed Karen Matthews had used his sister's phone.
Mr Donovan said he was being threatened by Karen Matthews CCTV of Michael Donovan going shopping was shown to the jury
Ms Oldham said: "She knew about the plan, didn't she? She, Alice, knew about the plan."Ms Oldham said: "She knew about the plan, didn't she? She, Alice, knew about the plan."
"I don't think so, no," he replied."I don't think so, no," he replied.
The jury was also shown a collection of CCTV footage showing Mr Donovan in Dewsbury and in supermarkets in Batley and Dewsbury during the 24 days Shannon was missing.The jury was also shown a collection of CCTV footage showing Mr Donovan in Dewsbury and in supermarkets in Batley and Dewsbury during the 24 days Shannon was missing.
Mr Donovan said Shannon had sat in the back of his car in car parks while he shopped in the supermarkets.Mr Donovan said Shannon had sat in the back of his car in car parks while he shopped in the supermarkets.
He has previously told the court he was threatened by Ms Matthews to keep to the plan and was scared to tell anyone about the youngster.He has previously told the court he was threatened by Ms Matthews to keep to the plan and was scared to tell anyone about the youngster.
Earlier, Mr Donovan had insisted Shannon got into his car of her own free will. Earlier, Mr Donovan had insisted Shannon got into his car of her own free will on the day she went missing.
List of rules
He was asked: "Yesterday you told us Shannon said this: 'Hi Mike, mum said you're taking me to the fair tonight'. You know Shannon Matthews never said that, did she?"He was asked: "Yesterday you told us Shannon said this: 'Hi Mike, mum said you're taking me to the fair tonight'. You know Shannon Matthews never said that, did she?"
Mr Donovan said: "Yes, she did."Mr Donovan said: "Yes, she did."
He then denied claims he had "stopped and pushed Shannon into your car". He then denied claims he had "stopped and pushed Shannon into your car". href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/uk_enl_1227725634/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/uk_enl_1227725634/html/1.stm', '1227725666', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=300,height=628,left=312,top=100'); return false;">A list of rules was found in Michael Donovan's flat href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/uk_enl_1227725634/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/uk_enl_1227725634/html/1.stm', '1227725666', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=300,height=628,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image
'Mystery' strap Mr Donovan also denied any knowledge of a strap found in his loft which it is alleged was used to restrain Shannon.
Mr Donovan denied any knowledge of a strap found in his loft which it is alleged was used to restrain Shannon.
He said it was a "mystery" to him as he was unable to get into the loft.He said it was a "mystery" to him as he was unable to get into the loft.
The court has heard how Shannon, who was nine at the time, was found in Mr Donovan's flat 24 days after she went missing from her home in Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire, in February.The court has heard how Shannon, who was nine at the time, was found in Mr Donovan's flat 24 days after she went missing from her home in Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire, in February.
The prosecution alleges Mr Donovan kept her drugged and imprisoned in his flat as part of a plan he and Ms Matthews had to claim £50,000 in reward money.The prosecution alleges Mr Donovan kept her drugged and imprisoned in his flat as part of a plan he and Ms Matthews had to claim £50,000 in reward money.
He denied he had written a list of rules found in his flat, but said he had been given the rules by his co-accused, Karen Matthews. He denied he had written a list of rules found in his flat, but said he had been given the rules by his co-accused, Ms Matthews.
The court also heard that Mr Donovan was a highly impressionable figure suffering from severe mental health problems.
Dr David Glasgow, a forensic and clinical psychologist, said Mr Donovan was of limited intelligence and suffered from serious emotional issues.
A range of psychometric tests found that Mr Donovan had memory problems, a long history of depression, and an IQ on the border between learning difficulties and a more severe learning disability.
Mr Donovan and Ms Matthews deny kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.Mr Donovan and Ms Matthews deny kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.
The trial continues.The trial continues.