UK: Man due in court in connection with Shannon abduction
A 39-year-old man will appear in court today charged with the kidnap and false imprisonment of Shannon Matthews in the UK.
Michael Donovan, from West Yorkshire, will appear before Dewsbury magistrates today, charged with taking the nine-year-old schoolgirl on February 19.
The youngster was discovered less than one mile from her home on Friday afternoon, 24 days after she went missing.
Peter Mann, Head of 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.
“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.
“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. We will continue to keep this case under constant review as it develops.
“At this time I would like to remind you of the need to take care in reporting the events surrounding this case. Michael Donovan stands accused of this offence and has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be responsible media reporting which should not prejudice the due process of law.”
Shannon was found at a flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, by UK police last Friday lunchtime.
Yesterday West Yorkshire Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison dismissed criticism of his force’s efforts to find the child.
He highlighted two detectives for praise as he dismissed those who claimed to have had their tip-offs ignored by police as “fantasists”.
He said his officers have interviewed 6,000 people and searched 3,000 houses over the past three weeks and he was amazed to have to defend his force publicly against criticism over its speed in recovering her.
Shannon’s mother Karen Matthews has only seen her daughter briefly but Shannon is not expected to return home for some time.
