Karen Matthews’ accomplice Michael Donovan played a sickening role in the disappearance of Shannon Matthews.
So, who is Michael Donovan, and where is he now? Here’s what we know.
Who is Michael Donovan?
Donovan was born Paul Drake, the youngest of nine children, and brought up on an estate in Dewsbury.
Throughout his life he had learning difficulties, only having around half the average IQ, and attended a Hartshead Moor special school where he claims he was bullied.
From the age of 11, he began getting in trouble with the juvenile courts, his first offences were three counts of arson and shoplifting.
When he was 16 he was convicted of causing criminal damage and at the time ran away from home and never returned.
Three years later he changed his name to Deed Poll, naming himself after a character in the 1980s television sci-fi series “V”.
It was while undergoing psychiatric treatment that he met Susan Bird and they later married and had two daughters.
He claims she was violent to towards him and had a drug problem and they later divorced
His children were later taken into care and it was when legal proceedings to try and get the girls back failed that he picked up his daughter from school and took her to Blackpool.
He was accused of kidnapping but the case was dropped.
What was Michael Donovan’s role in the kidnapping?
Shannon Matthews disappeared on her way home from a swimming lesson at Westmoor Primary School, Dewsbury, in 2008.
Hundreds of neighbours joined the search which cost West Yorkshire Police £3.2million and lasted 24 days.
Donovan held terrified Shannon captive at his dingy home for 24 days, while he and her mum Karen plotted her “disappearance” to try and claim a £50,000 reward for her safe return.
They had planned to release the schoolgirl, “discover her” then take her to a police station and claim the reward before splitting.
The nine-year-old was found tethered and drugged inside the base of a double bed at Donovan’s flat almost a month after she disappeared.
It later emerged Karen, who was going out with Donovan’s nephew Craig Meehan at the time, had devised the elaborate plot with Donovan.
She was given a new identity.
The Sunday Mirror reported that Donovan insisted that the public “would understand why he kept her captive for 24 days.”
He said: “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.
“My solicitor said the police or CPS may drop the charges on me because Karen did know I was looking after Shannon.”
Michael Donovan’s list of rules for Shannon
While Shannon was being held captive in Michael’s home, he wrote a chilling list of strict rules for her to follow.
The note reads: “Rules. You must not make any noise or bang your feet.
“You must not go near the windows, you must not get anything or do anything without me here.
“Keep the TV volume (low) only up to 8 or lower. You can play the Super Mario games and you can play some DVDs and you can play the CD music.”
He signed off with the initials I.P.U which is thought to stand for “I Promise You”.
Where is Michael Donovan now?
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.
Matthews, who has been dubbed Britain’s Most Hated Mum, was released from prison in 2012 after serving just half her sentence.
A photo of Donovan appeared in the Sunday Mirror in 2012 said to be snapped outside a coffee shop as he watched children playing nearby.
