Shannon Matthews kidnap accomplice Michael Donovan insists public ‘would understand why he kept her captive for 24 days’

THE man who helped kidnap Shannon Matthews allegedly told a pen pal people "would understand" if he was able to tell his side of the story.

Michael Donovan, who was convicted of the crime, insisted he was "looking after" the nine-year-old girl, .

The subject of the hoax kidnapping in 2008, and the people involved in the crime, has been thrust back into the limelight and captivated the nation once more as it is dramatised in a BBC mini-series.

Shannon went missing on her way home from a swimming pool.

She had last been seen outside her school, Westmoor Junior School, in Dewsbury Moor, about half a mile from her home in  West Yorkshire on February 19, 2008.

She was found 24 days later hidden in a bed at Donovan's house - the uncle of Matthews' boyfriend, Craig Meehan.

Donovan claimed in letters written behind bars, the newspaper reports, that Matthews knew he was looking after her daughter, before she was reported missing.

The Sunday Mirror reports he wrote to 'Sarah': "There's always two sides to the story and if only I could say my side then people will understand why I had to look after Shannon."

He added: "My solicitor said the police or CPS may drop the charges on me, because Karen did know I was looking after Shannon."

More than 250 officers and 60 detectives became involved in the search to find Shannon.

Police have described the moment they found her alive.

A theory later emerged that Karen Matthews, Shannon’s mum, who was going out with Donovan’s nephew Craig Meehan at the time – had devised the plot with her accomplice in a bid to claim reward money.

On December 4, 2008, mum-of-seven Karen and Donovan were found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.

Both were sentenced at  Leeds Crown Court to eight years behind bars.

When is The Moorside next on BBC and what is it about?

Episode two of The Moorside will air on Tuesday 14 February at 9pm.

For anyone who missed the first part of the show, you can catch up now using BBC's iPlayer.

The Moorside retells the story of the manhunt from the perspective of the friends of Karen Matthews.

Sheridan Smith plays neighbour Julie Bushby, the chair of the Moorside residents and tenants association that helped trace Shannon.

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