Who is Michael Donovan, Karen Matthews’ accomplice, and where is he now? – The sun
KAREN Matthews’ accomplice Michael Donovan played a sickening role in Shannon Matthews’ disappearance.
So, who is Michael Donovan, and where is he now? Here’s what we know.
1
Who is Michael Donovan?
Donovan was born Paul Drake, the youngest of nine children, and grew up on an estate in Dewsbury.
He had learning difficulties all his life, having only about half the average IQ, and attended a special school in Hartshead Moor, where he claims he bullied.
There are always two sides to the story and if I could just say my side then people will understand why I had to take care of Shannon.”
Michael Donovan
From the age of eleven he started having problems with the juvenile courts. His first offenses were three counts of arson and shoplifting.
When he was 16, he was convicted of causing criminal damage and ran away from home at the time and never returned.
Read more about Shannon Matthews
Three years later he changed his name to Deed Poll, naming himself after a character from the 1980s sci-fi television series ‘V’.
While undergoing psychiatric treatment, he met Susan Bird and they later married and had two daughters.
He claims she was violent towards him and a drug problem and them later divorced
His children were later taken care of and when the legal process to get the girls back failed, he took his daughter out of school and took her there Blackpool.
He was charged with kidnapping, but the case was dropped.
What was Michael Donovan’s role in the kidnapping?
Shannon Matthews disappeared on the way home from a swimming lesson at Westmoor Primary School, Dewsbury, in 2008.
Hundreds of neighbors joined the search, which cost West Yorkshire Police £3.2 million and lasted 24 days.
Donovan remained terrified Shannon Trapped in his filthy house for 24 days while he and her mother Karen planned her ‘disappearance’ in an attempt to claim a £50,000 reward for her safe return.
They planned to release the schoolgirl, ‘discover her’ and then take her to a police station and claim the reward before parting ways.
The nine year old was found tied up and drugged inside the basis of a double bed at Donovan’s apartment, almost a month after she disappeared.
Later, Karen, who was dating Donovan’s cousin, came forward Craig Meehan had masterminded the elaborate plot involving Donovan at the time.
She was given a new identity.
The Sunday mirror reported that Donovan insisted on it the audience “would understand why he held her captive for 24 days.”
He said: “There are always two sides to the story and if I could just say my side then people will understand why I had to look after Shannon.
‘My lawyer said the police or CPS could drop charges against me because Karen knew I was caring for Shannon.’
Michael Donovan’s list of rules for Shannon
While Shannon was held captive in Michael’s home, he wrote a chilling list of strict rules for her to follow.
The note reads: “Rules. You are not allowed to make any noise or bump your feet.
‘You’re not allowed near the windows, you’re not allowed to take or do anything without me here.
“Keep the TV volume (low) only at 8 or lower. You can play the Super Mario games, you can play some DVDs and play the CD music.”
He signed off with the initials IPU, which are believed to stand for “I Promise You”.
Where is Michael Donovan now?
On December 4, 2008, mother-of-seven Karen and Donovan were found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.
Both were sentenced to eight years behind bars at Leeds Crown Court.
Matthews, which is dubbed Britain’s most hated motherwas released from prison in 2012 after serving only half her sentence.
A photo of Donovan appeared in the Sunday mirror in 2012, he was reportedly photographed outside a coffee shop while watching children play nearby.
According to the newspaper, he was seen “acting bizarrely” while sitting on a bench in a market place in Leeds.
He spent six hours a day there and police picked him up after a request from probation officers.
Donovan was sent back to prison, but it is unknown what happened to him since.
No one knows what happened to him after his last release from prison.
According to the Mirror, Michael has been disowned by his family.