Man accused of Shannon kidnap denies family plot

A man accused of kidnapping Shannon Matthews has denied being part of a family plot to benefit from the £50,000 reward for the child's return. Michael Donovan and Shannon's mother Karen Matthews, 33, deny several charges over the girl's disappearance.

Mr Donovan, 40, of Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, yesterday rejected claims that he was the ringleader of a scam involving his sister, nephew and niece. Ms Matthews's barrister, Frances Oldham, QC, alleged that Mr Donovan planned the kidnap with his sister Alice Meehan and niece Amanda Hyett. He denied this but said he did not know if Craig Meehan – his nephew and Ms Matthews's partner – was involved.

The jury at Leeds Crown Court was also shown CCTV footage of Mr Donovan in supermarkets in Batley and Dewsbury during the 24 days Shannon was missing. He said Shannon sat in the back of his parked car while he shopped in the stores.

He has previously told the court he was threatened by Ms Matthews to keep to the plan and was scared to tell anyone about Shannon. The nine-year-old was found in Mr Donovan's flat 24 days after she went missing from her home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in February.

Mr Donovan and Ms Matthews deny kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting justice. The trial continues.