Shannon Matthews' mother's deceitful plea captured in new Prime Video documentary

A disturbing abduction case is the focus of a fresh Prime Video documentary launching this week.

Nine-year-old Shannon Matthews vanished in February 2008 whilst making her way home, triggering a 24-day manhunt for her. The operation represented the most extensive search undertaken by West Yorkshire Police since their pursuit of the Yorkshire Ripper, with the police probe alone setting the force back £3.2m.

In a sickening development to the tale, it transpired that Shannon's mum Karen Matthews and her partner in crime Michael Donovan had orchestrated the abduction to secure the £50,000 reward for locating the youngster. The Hunt for Shannon Matthews launches on Sunday this week (August 17) and examines the harrowing case 17 years later.

Shannon was ultimately discovered by officers trapped and drugged inside a divan bed in Michael's flat whilst the deception unfolded. She had additionally been secured with a makeshift lead.

Whilst her child remained missing, Karen delivered an unscheduled statement outside her home where she begged for Shannon's safe return, despite knowing precisely her location. Film of the spine-chilling scene features in the forthcoming documentary, reports the Mirror.

Within it, Karen appears bleary-eyed and seemingly devastated as she addresses cameras: "Please come home Shannon if you're out there come home. If anybody's got my daughter, my beautiful princess daughter please bring her home safe."

Karen, who was 33 at the time, and Michael, then 40, were convicted of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice. They each received eight-year prison sentences for their heinous crimes, which the judge described as "truly despicable."

He stated: "It is impossible to conceive how you could have found it in you to put this young girl through the ordeal that you inflicted upon her."

During her mother's trial, it emerged that Shannon had been plagued by frequent nightmares following the kidnapping and needed psychotherapy sessions.

Michael passed away in April 2024 at the age of 54, while Karen was released from prison in 2012. Meanwhile Shannon was placed into care with her siblings and given a new identity.

The Hunt for Shannon Matthews is available to stream on Prime Video from August 17