Shannon's neighbours arrested on fraud suspicion

The next-door neighbours of Shannon Matthews have been arrested on suspicion of benefit fraud.

Amanda and Neil Hyett, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, are the sister and brother-in-law of Craig Meehan, the ex-partner of Shannon's mother, Karen Matthews, and live in the adjoining semi-detached house.

They were arrested on Monday morning by West Yorkshire Police officers, working with the Department of Work and Pensions, on suspicion of committing fraud offences.

The pair were later bailed without charge pending further investigation and no date has been set for them to return to a police station.

It is understood the investigation into the alleged fraud began before the nine-year-old disappeared on February 19.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "West Yorkshire Police officers, assisting the Department of Work and Pensions, have this morning arrested two people from the Dewsbury Moor area on suspicion of committing fraud offences.

He added: "The arrests are not related to an alleged abduction of a nine-year-old girl in February."

A DWP spokeswoman said they could not comment on individual cases.

Coach driver Mr Hyett, 36, and his 25-year-old wife led the search for Shannon after she disappeared.

The young girl was discovered on March 14, hidden in the base of a bed in a flat in Batley Carr, just one mile from her home in Dewsbury.

The dramatic 24-day search by police, which involved more than 300 police officers, cost an extra £1 million in overtime and additional resources.

Michael Donovan, 39, the uncle of Craig Meehan, was arrested and charged with Shannon's kidnap and imprisonment.

Her mother Karen Matthews, 32, was later arrested by detectives investigating her daughter's disappearance and charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice.

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