Shannon's mother remanded in custody

Updated 22.37 Wed Apr 09 2008

Keywords: Shannon Matthews

Shannon Matthews' mother has been remanded in custody accused of child neglect and perverting the course of justice.

Karen Matthews will appear via videolink at Leeds Crown Court on April 16.

The pamphlets also urged residents not to take the law into their own hands and not to "jump to conclusions about people who maybe involved in the inquiry"

Just hours after going before magistrates in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, contractors began boarding up her semi-detached council home in Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor.

Police also distributed leaflets to local residents insisting they will "find out the truth". The pamphlets also urged residents not to take the law into their own hands and not to "jump to conclusions about people who maybe involved in the inquiry".

The charges against Matthews relate to Shannon's disappearance on February 19 after the nine-year-old failed to return home from a school swimming lesson.

Shannon was found alive and well 24 days later at a flat just a mile from her home following a huge police search. Her mother was arrested on April 6 and charged two days later. She is the fourth family member to be held in connection with the case.

Michael Donovan, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, was arrested on March 14, after Shannon was found in his flat following her disappearance on February 19.

He was later charged with Shannon's kidnap and false imprisonment and is remanded in custody awaiting trial at Leeds Crown Court on November 11.

The 39-year-old, formerly known as Paul Drake, is the uncle of Matthews' partner Craig Meehan.

Last week, Meehan's sister, Amanda Hyett, 25, who lives next door to Shannon's mother in Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, and his mother, Alice Meehan, 49, were both arrested in connection with the alleged abduction.

Mrs Hyett was questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender and Mrs Meehan on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The pair were released on bail pending further inquiries.

Meehan, 22, was also arrested last week after detectives investigating Shannon's disappearance allegedly found 140 pornographic images of children on two computers.

He appeared at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court on Thursday charged with 11 counts of possessing indecent images of children.

He was remanded in custody to appear again before the same court on Friday.