Evil Karen Matthews shows off her ring after getting engaged to handyman boyfriend
KIDNAP liar mum Karen Matthews is to wed.
She met her handyman fiancé when he did odd jobs at her home and he proposed over Christmas.
Matthews, 44, jailed for faking daughter Shannon’s abduction, has been showing off a Princess Diana-style ring after getting engaged.
She flashed the sparkler this week as she and her handyman husband-to-be were out shopping.
Matthews tried to bluff her way to reward money by helping to stage the abduction of daughter Shannon, then nine.
She was jailed for eight years for the warped 2008 stunt in Dewsbury, West Yorks.
Matthews met her fiancé, named Paul, after moving to a secret home in the South of England following her release.
She has told him who she is but he seems unconcerned by her notorious past.
'NOT BOTHERED ABOUT HER PAST'
He proposed over Christmas and pals have described them as “inseparable”.
The pair are the talk of the town, which cannot be named for legal reasons.
They are understood to have met when he was doing repair work at the flat she was given at taxpayers’ expense.
A source told The Sun: “She is in love with him. Both of them have been walking round like teenagers.
“The ring is like Princess Diana’s design. She apparently bought it herself with money she saved.
“He knows who she is but he can’t be bothered about her past. He’s been staying over pretty often.
“I just think it’s disgusting that anyone could want to be in a relationship with her.”
Shannon was discovered by police under a bed at the home of Michael Donovan — the uncle of her mum’s boyfriend.
Matthews and Donovan dreamt up the fake kidnap to try to claim a £50,000 reward for her daughter’s safe return.
The vile mum was released with a new ID in April 2012 after serving half her sentence.
Last year she had complained about her reputation, claiming: “I’m not Britain’s worst mum. I didn’t kill anybody. I’m scared I’ll die lonely and alone.”
Her last serious boyfriend, supermarket fishmonger Craig Meehan, shared a house with her in Dewsbury for around five years.
He was unaware of her abduction scam with his uncle.
But he did get 20 weeks’ jail after police probing Shannon’s disappearance found child abuse images on his computer.
How kidnap lie unravelled
February 19, 2008: Last confirmed sighting of Shannon outside school.
February 20: Police say more than 200 officers are searching for her.
March 1: Her mum Karen Matthews issues an emotional appeal.
March 12: The Sun increases its £20,000 reward to £50,000.
March 14: Shannon found hidden in the base of a divan bed at Michael Donovan’s flat.
December 4: Matthews and Donovan, uncle of her boyfriend Craig Meehan, left, found guilty of the vile trick.
January 28, 2009: Matthews and Donovan get eight years each.
April 2012: Matthews is freed and changes her name.
When The Sun knocked on Matthews’ door to try to talk to her and Paul, he answered in a tracksuit.
He initially denied knowing her. But when shown a picture of them together, he raged: “It’s got nothing to do with anybody. I’m not saying nothing. It’s about time the Press kept their noses out of other people’s business.
“If you come knocking on this door again I will forcibly remove you. If you put anything in the paper about me, I will sue you.”
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