Missing Shannon Matthews 'drugged' in flat

Missing schoolgirl Shannon Matthews had been drugged and subdued 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.

Karen Matthews denies kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.

Mr Donovan has also denied kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice at Leeds Crown Court.

Prosecutor Julian Goose, QC, told the court Ms Matthews, 33, had raised the alarm about her daughter's disappearance on 19 February.

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.

Mr Goose told the court the aim of the disappearance had been to claim reward money for the youngster's return.

Ms Matthews, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and Mr Donovan, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, deny the charges.

The disappearance of Shannon, now 10, sparked a massive search operation by West Yorkshire Police which became one of the highest-profile missing person inquiries ever seen in the UK.

The youngster was found 24 days later.

BBC News