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Mother guilty over Shannon kidnap Mother guilty over Shannon kidnap
(10 minutes later)
The mother of Shannon Matthews has been found guilty of charges relating to her daughter's disappearance.The mother of Shannon Matthews has been found guilty of charges relating to her daughter's disappearance.
Karen Matthews, 33, and her co-accused Michael Donovan, 40, were convicted of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.Karen Matthews, 33, and her co-accused Michael Donovan, 40, were convicted of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.
The pair have been warned they face "substantial" jail terms when they are sentenced later.The pair have been warned they face "substantial" jail terms when they are sentenced later.
The nine-year-old was held at Donovan's flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, for 24 days.The nine-year-old was held at Donovan's flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, for 24 days.
The 13-day trial at Leeds Crown Court heard the pair kept Shannon "drugged, subdued and hidden from the public" so they could claim £50,000 in reward money.The 13-day trial at Leeds Crown Court heard the pair kept Shannon "drugged, subdued and hidden from the public" so they could claim £50,000 in reward money.
The trial judge Mr Justice McCombe said earlier that he would adjourn sentencing for reports to be prepared. No application was made for bail and the two defendants were led away.The trial judge Mr Justice McCombe said earlier that he would adjourn sentencing for reports to be prepared. No application was made for bail and the two defendants were led away.
Michael Donovan was "weak in body and mind", his barrister said.Michael Donovan was "weak in body and mind", his barrister said.
During the three-week trial, the court heard that Shannon, now 10, went missing on 19 February as she walked home from school.During the three-week trial, the court heard that Shannon, now 10, went missing on 19 February as she walked home from school.
After a huge search operation by West Yorkshire Police costing almost £3.2 million, she was found by police in Donovan's flat, less than a mile from her home, on 14 March.After a huge search operation by West Yorkshire Police costing almost £3.2 million, she was found by police in Donovan's flat, less than a mile from her home, on 14 March.
The search was one of the largest ever conducted by the West Yorkshire force.The search was one of the largest ever conducted by the West Yorkshire force.
The prosecution told the jury that Donovan kept Shannon drugged and imprisoned in his flat as part of a plan he and Matthews hatched to claim £50,000 in reward money.The prosecution told the jury that Donovan kept Shannon drugged and imprisoned in his flat as part of a plan he and Matthews hatched to claim £50,000 in reward money.
Matthews denied the abduction and blamed the crime on her former partner, Craig Meehan, and other members of his family.Matthews denied the abduction and blamed the crime on her former partner, Craig Meehan, and other members of his family.
She said she was "disgusted" by allegations that she was involved in her daughter's kidnap.She said she was "disgusted" by allegations that she was involved in her daughter's kidnap.
You have done it with great aplomb and behaved with great dignity Mr Justice McCombe to the jury
Donovan, who is the uncle of Mr Meehan, claims he was scared of Matthews and agreed to take Shannon only because he feared for his life.Donovan, who is the uncle of Mr Meehan, claims he was scared of Matthews and agreed to take Shannon only because he feared for his life.
Neither of the defendants showed any emotion as the jury foreman returned the verdict.
Matthews stood staring straight forward in the stone-coloured jacket she has worn throughout the proceedings and with her red hair hanging untied over her shoulders.
Donovan, who had been described in court as "a dimwit" stood a few feet away from her, separated by a court security officer.
The court remained silent following the verdict after the judge warned the public gallery against over-emotional responses.
The seven men and five women on the jury took about six hours to find the pair unanimously guilty of all charges.
After they returned their verdict, Mr Justice McCombe thanked the jury for their "careful consideration" throughout the trial.
The judge said: "You have done it with great aplomb and behaved with great dignity."