Shannon 'frightened' when found

Shannon Matthews was frightened and crying when police found her hidden in the base of a bed, a court has heard.

Det Con Paul Kettlewell said officers were searching Michael Donovan's flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, when they heard a child's voice.

He told Leeds Crown Court the voice said: "Stop it, you're frightening me."

As well as Shannon, officers also found Mr Donovan under the bed. The 40-year-old and Shannon's mother Karen, 33, deny kidnap and false imprisonment.

Mr Kettlewell said: "I went into the bedroom. My colleague turned towards me and, as I was beginning to think perhaps the voice came from inside the bed, there was a noise inside the bed as a small girl started to emerge."

He told the court: "She was frightened and she was crying."

Bite attempt

Mr Kettlewell described how officers forced their way into the flat after no-one answered the door but neighbours assured them Mr Donovan was inside.

The prosecution claim Ms Matthews and Mr Donovan planned the kidnap of Shannon to claim £50,000 of reward money.

Pc Matthew Troake told the jury that Mr Donovan said to him: "Get Karen down here, we've got a plan" in the police van after his arrest.

The officer said Mr Donovan went on: "We're sharing the money - £50,000."

Neighbour 'unsure' over flat visitor

Mr Troake described how he had found Mr Donovan in the base of the bed after Shannon had been taken from the bedroom.

He said: "I looked down into the hole where she'd come from and I saw a man, who I now know to be Michael Donovan, looking back at me.

"He was laid facing me in a foetal position."

Mr Troake said he arrested Mr Donovan and told him to come out but he did not respond, so the officer lifted the bed and pulled him out.

The officer told the jury: "I do remember he was screaming at the time."

He said Mr Donovan tried to bite another officer and continued to struggle after he was handcuffed.

Another officer, Pc Ian Mosley, denied claims by Mr Donovan's barrister that police had treated Mr Donovan in a rough manner.

A neighbour of Mr Donovan's had identified Karen Matthews as a visitor she had seen outside the flat.

Carol Battye said she spoke to a woman outside Mr Donovan's flat on 21 February, two days after Shannon went missing.

Initially she identified Karen Matthews during a DVD identity parade, but later said she was not sure it was Ms Matthews she had seen and spoken to.

Ms Matthews and Mr Donovan also deny perverting the course of justice. The trial continues.

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