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Karen Matthews breaks down in court

27/11/2008

The mother of Shannon Matthews has broken down in tears while giving evidence in the trial over her daughter's disappearance.

Karen Matthews is currently on trial at Leeds crown court alongside Michael Donovan, the uncle of her former partner, charged with kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting course of justice.

Shannon went missing for 24 days in February before being discovered by West Yorkshire police officers in a property at Dewsbury Moor.

The prosecution claim Ms Matthews and Mr Donovan were plotting to claim the £50,000 reward money offered for finding Shannon.

In court today Ms Matthews broke down in tears as she told her barrister she was "disgusted" as she had nothing to do with Shannon's disappearance.

When asked if she had planned the kidnap of her daughter, she answered: "I did not."

It is alleged that Mr Donovan kept the girl drugged and imprisoned in the flat. He previously denied he had written a list of rules for Shannon to abide by, claiming he was given them by her mother.

Mr Donovan and Ms Matthews deny the charges.