Missing nine-year-old 'was seen'

The nine-year-old has never gone missing before

Detectives searching for a missing nine-year-old girl are treating a reported sighting of her the day after she disappeared as "significant."

Shannon Matthews, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was last seen leaving school in the town on Tuesday.

Det Supt Andy Brennan said police had spoken to a witness who believed he had seen Shannon on Wednesday morning.

And the senior officer also revealed that people who "could pose a risk to the public" had been interviewed.

Speaking about the possible sighting Det Supt Brennan said: "It was an adult who was convinced that it was Shannon - so we are treating it as a significant finding."

It is of great concern to me now that a nine-year-old has been missing for over 48 hours Det Supt Andy Brennan

He said the sighting was one of a number his team of 60 detectives were investigating.

Others included one on the playing fields behind Shannon's school on Church Lane between 1830 GMT and 1930 GMT on Tuesday and another in a park at the junction of Staincliffe Road and Heckmondwike Road.

Det Supt Brennan, of West Yorkshire's Homicide and Major Crimes unit, said Shannon had told friends she wanted to run away.

See the key locations in the search

"My teams have spoken with a number of her friends and certainly on Monday or Tuesday this week she had suggested she may not want to come home.

"We have spoken to her friends and are satisfied she has made that comment.

"There has been no contact with family or friends we are aware of.

"It is of great concern to me now that a nine-year-old has been missing for over 48 hours."

'Absolutely shattered'

Det Supt Brennan added: "I couldn't be more concerned, she is a nine-year-old girl who has never gone missing before. And I would have expected her to turn up by now."

Police revealed that the youngster did not normally walk to and from school alone and usually met family friends before going to a breakfast club.

"She is a nine-year-old girl, I would not described her as streetwise," he added.

Also on Thursday morning, the nine-year-old's step aunt Amanda Hyett, who lives next door to Shannon's family, said they were still waiting for news.

"We're just absolutely all shattered, we're all out looking.

"We appreciate what the police are doing, they're out looking constantly.

"We're just really wanting some news... to give us an edge... where to look next, that's all."

Return to top