Shannon Matthews’ ‘Britain’s worst mum’ Karen has been filmed for the first time since the release of a new Prime Video documentary about her daughter’s kidnap
Karen Matthews has emerged from hiding following the airing of an explosive new television programme about her shocking crime.
It remains unknown whether the 48 year old has viewed the Prime Video documentary, which features devastating fresh evidence about how she orchestrated her daughter Shannon’s fake abduction in an attempt to secure a £50,000 reward. Yet unlike her previous brazen public pleas for information about Shannon’s whereabouts – despite knowing her location throughout – Karen declined to speak about the two-part series when contacted by the Mirror on Friday.
The kidnapper, who had been spotted earlier making her way into town with a shopping trolley, currently resides in southern England alongside her partner Paul Saunders, a convicted paedophile.
In the new programme, Matthews’ former friend Petra Jamieson revealed how Matthews ruthlessly manipulated friends and neighbours whilst the search – West Yorkshire Police’s largest ever missing person inquiry – unfolded in 2008. Describing a trip to a local chippy with Matthews during the manhunt, she revealed to ‘The Hunt for Shannon Matthews’: “She got fish and chips for the family.
“The person behind the counter says, ‘They are on us. We’re really sorry what’s going with your daughter.’ She [Karen] looked at me and just said she should ‘get rid of one of my kids more often’,” reports the Mirror.
She continues: “At the time, I just slapped her on the side of the arm?’ Why would you say that?'”.
In the Prime Video documentary, local journalist Richard Edwards also recounts his visit to Matthews’ house to discuss the hunt for her missing daughter. Chuckling, Karen leapt out from behind the lounge door, as though she was engaged in a game of hide and seek.
Matthews earned the notorious title of Britain’s most despicable mother when the scheme was uncovered, sparking widespread public outrage.
Hundreds of worried residents had participated in the 24-day hunt for Shannon, then nine years old, in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, before she was discovered bound and sedated beneath a double bed at Michael Donovan’s flat.
At the time, Matthews was romantically involved with Donovan’s nephew Craig Meehan, and she collaborated with Donovan to orchestrate the scheme aimed at claiming the £50,000 reward for locating Shannon.
Upon his arrest, Donovan, who passed away from cancer in April 2024 at 54, had yelled: “Get Karen down here! We’d got a plan. We’re sharing the money – £50,000!”.
Shannon, now 27, was one of seven youngsters Karen bore with five different fathers. She was taken into emergency social services care and subsequently provided with a fresh identity.
Analysis of her hair samples revealed she may have been administered sedatives for as long as 20 months prior to her abduction.
A stretchy band with a noose attached was discovered at the property, which investigators believe may have served as a disturbing form of restraint for Shannon. With it fastened round her waist, she could have used the loo and switched on the telly. However, it wasn’t long enough to let her venture outside the property.
Matthews, who had earlier tugged at the nation’s heartstrings with her emotional public appeals for her “beautiful princess daughter” to come home, eventually came clean and admitted she had been deceiving everyone. She subsequently withdrew her admission and ultimately gave police no fewer than five different accounts of what happened.
Yet both she and Donovan were convicted of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice and handed eight-year prison sentences. Matthews walked free in 2012.
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