Harry!
19-04-2008, 09:47 AM
http://www.mirror.co.uk/
Shannon Matthews' terrified mum Karen was on 15-minute suicide watch last night as fears mounted for her safety.
The mother of seven was said to be "extremely fragile" and "badly affected" by threats from other prisoners. Bosses at New Hall jail, West Yorks, ordered Karen, 32, to be checked four times an hour as police confirmed she had been charged for a second time with perverting justice.
Her ex-lover Craig Meehan, 22, and his uncle Michael Donovan, 39, were accused of the same offence. The charges directly relate to the alleged 24-day kidnap of Shannon, nine, of Dewsbury.
Karen Matthews was in fear of her life last night after being warned by fellow prisoners: "We're going to get you! It's only a matter of time."
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Jail bosses are so concerned for her physical and mental health they have ordered her to be checked in her cell every 15 minutes.
The suicide watch was called as Karen, 32, her ex-lover Craig Meehan and his uncle Michael Donovan were all accused of perverting justice over the alleged kidnaping of Karen's daughter Shannon.
Karen, described as "extremely fragile", is on remand at New Hall jail, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
She is said to be badly affected by threats from some prisoners who have put a 10-cigarette price on her head and has told friends "I can't stand being in jail".
She now spends 20 hours a day alone in her single cell writing up to four pages of misspelt A4 notes, covered in crossings out, to Shannon, nine.
Shannon is still staying with foster parents as police struggle to build an accurate picture of her mysterious 24-day disappearance from her home in Dewsbury.
Mum-of-seven Karen was already accused of child neglect and perverting justice when she was re-interviewed by detectives on Thursday night.
Police confirmed yesterday that she has now been charged for a second time. Meehan, 22, and Donovan, 39, were also accused of perverting justice.
All the new charges are directly connected to Sharon's disappearance.
Earlier this week Donovan and Meehan were each quizzed for seven hours at separate police stations.
Donovan, from Batley Carr, is accused of kidnap and false imprisonment.
Shannon was found in the base of a divan at his home.
Yesterday in an unrelated case Meehan appeared at Dewsbury court to deny possessing 140 child porn images on a computer.
Wearing a black Manchester United away strip, grey tracksuit bottoms and a navy and white Fila jacket, he was led into court in handcuffs.
He sat flanked by two guards and looked solemn throughout the brief hearing.
He spoke only to enter his not guilty plea and to confirm his name, age, address and to say that he wanted to stand trial in a magistrates' court.
His mother Alice sobbed in the public gallery as the charges were read out. She was comforted by daughter Amanda Hyett.
Meehan, who is accused of 11 specimen offences, was further remanded in custody until May 14.
Other members of Meehan's family have also been arrested by officers investigating Shannon's disappearance. They have been freed on bail.
Earlier Meehan, a supermarket fishmonger, was moved from Armley jail, West Leeds, to a special unit in Hull prison because of a suspected plot to attack him.
Detectives are believed to be investigating documents sent to them by legal investigators and psychological profilers before Shannon was found.
Shannon Matthews' terrified mum Karen was on 15-minute suicide watch last night as fears mounted for her safety.
The mother of seven was said to be "extremely fragile" and "badly affected" by threats from other prisoners. Bosses at New Hall jail, West Yorks, ordered Karen, 32, to be checked four times an hour as police confirmed she had been charged for a second time with perverting justice.
Her ex-lover Craig Meehan, 22, and his uncle Michael Donovan, 39, were accused of the same offence. The charges directly relate to the alleged 24-day kidnap of Shannon, nine, of Dewsbury.
Karen Matthews was in fear of her life last night after being warned by fellow prisoners: "We're going to get you! It's only a matter of time."
Advertisement
Jail bosses are so concerned for her physical and mental health they have ordered her to be checked in her cell every 15 minutes.
The suicide watch was called as Karen, 32, her ex-lover Craig Meehan and his uncle Michael Donovan were all accused of perverting justice over the alleged kidnaping of Karen's daughter Shannon.
Karen, described as "extremely fragile", is on remand at New Hall jail, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
She is said to be badly affected by threats from some prisoners who have put a 10-cigarette price on her head and has told friends "I can't stand being in jail".
She now spends 20 hours a day alone in her single cell writing up to four pages of misspelt A4 notes, covered in crossings out, to Shannon, nine.
Shannon is still staying with foster parents as police struggle to build an accurate picture of her mysterious 24-day disappearance from her home in Dewsbury.
Mum-of-seven Karen was already accused of child neglect and perverting justice when she was re-interviewed by detectives on Thursday night.
Police confirmed yesterday that she has now been charged for a second time. Meehan, 22, and Donovan, 39, were also accused of perverting justice.
All the new charges are directly connected to Sharon's disappearance.
Earlier this week Donovan and Meehan were each quizzed for seven hours at separate police stations.
Donovan, from Batley Carr, is accused of kidnap and false imprisonment.
Shannon was found in the base of a divan at his home.
Yesterday in an unrelated case Meehan appeared at Dewsbury court to deny possessing 140 child porn images on a computer.
Wearing a black Manchester United away strip, grey tracksuit bottoms and a navy and white Fila jacket, he was led into court in handcuffs.
He sat flanked by two guards and looked solemn throughout the brief hearing.
He spoke only to enter his not guilty plea and to confirm his name, age, address and to say that he wanted to stand trial in a magistrates' court.
His mother Alice sobbed in the public gallery as the charges were read out. She was comforted by daughter Amanda Hyett.
Meehan, who is accused of 11 specimen offences, was further remanded in custody until May 14.
Other members of Meehan's family have also been arrested by officers investigating Shannon's disappearance. They have been freed on bail.
Earlier Meehan, a supermarket fishmonger, was moved from Armley jail, West Leeds, to a special unit in Hull prison because of a suspected plot to attack him.
Detectives are believed to be investigating documents sent to them by legal investigators and psychological profilers before Shannon was found.