The Moorside: how accurate is the BBC's Shannon Matthews drama?
The real story behind the nine-year-old's disappearance – and how her mother Karen was connected to the crime all along
How much time passed between Shannon's discovery and her mother Karen's arrest?
While Michael Donovan was arrested when police found Shannon and charged three days later on 17th March, it wasn't until 6th April that Karen was taken into custody. Four days earlier, her partner – and Shannon's stepdad – Craig was arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children. Karen was formally charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice on 8th April, with charges of kidnapping and false imprisonment added on 5th September.
Was it Julie Bushby and Natalie Brown who got the truth out of Karen?
Yes. Three weeks after Shannon was found, Julie and Natalie rang police liaison officer Christine Freeman (played by Siobhan Finneran) to say they wanted to talk to Karen. "[Natalie] put a theory to her that she – Karen - had wanted to leave Craig and asked Mick to pick up Shannon," Christine recently told the Telegraph. "She was to join him with the other kids, but at the last minute, when she was going to tell Craig, she bottled it.
"Karen drew the biggest intake of breath I've ever heard and said 'Yes, that's right'. I couldn't believe it. Julie kept her talking and as she confessed I started making notes. Then I arrested her."
It is a theory supported by Julie who recently told Radio Times that she believes Karen moved Shannon out of the flat as a first step towards leaving Craig, but pressure from family and friends caused her to report her daughter missing to police.
What happened to Shannon’s mother, Karen Matthews, when the truth was revealed?
Karen Matthews and Michael Donovan both went on trial and were found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.
During the trial it was revealed that Shannon had been both drugged and tethered during her time in captivity.
The pair were sentenced to eight years imprisonment.
