The Moorside: Shocking true story of the Shannon Matthews kidnapping

The new two-part BBC drama, which airs tonight, explores the Shannon Matthews hoax through the eyes of the community that helped search for her.

Writer Neil McKay explains: “This drama takes us into the heart of a story and a community that was defined more by prejudice than genuine understanding.”

Sheridan Smith, who plays the Matthews’ neighbour Julie Bushby, added: “The story is a fascinating mixture of what I thought I knew and a whole lot more that I had no idea about. 

“The themes of faith and trust in human nature, and the way the whole community came together really inspired me.”

Shannon’s grandmother June has labelled the BBC drama “disgusting” and has said that Shannon “deserves to live her life in peace”.

Karen Matthews reported that her daughter Shannon, then nine years old, had gone mission from their home on the Moorside estate on February 19, 2008

Her disappearance sparked the largest missing person search in the area in 30 years.

More than 200 West Yorkshire Police officers joined the search within the first 24 hours, with another 200 volunteers joining on day two.

By March 5, more than 250 officers and 60 detectives – around 10 per cent of West Yorkshire’s Police force – were involved in the case.

Around 1,500 motorists were questioned and 3,000 homes were searched, with the help of specialist victim recovery dogs. In total, the operation cost over £2.5 million.

Eleven days after her disappearance and one day before Mother’s Day, Karen made a heartfelt appeal for Shannon’s safe return.

“Mother’s Day is a day when every mum wants her children around them,” she said. “Today I don’t want cards or presents, I just want my darling daughter home safely.

“I have a special bond with Shannon and I feel sure that she is alive and will come home to her mum.”

Over the next few days Karen continued to appear on TV pleading for kidnappers to release her daughter, and The Sun upped their reward to £50,000.

On March 14, Shannon was found in a house which belonged to Michael Donovan, the uncle of Karen’s partner Craig Meehan.

A court later heard how Shannon had been drugged and hidden in a divan bed base as part of a hoax by Karen and Michael.

They had planned for Michael to eventually taken Shannon to a police station and say that he had found her in order to claim the reward money.

Michael told officers at the scene: “Get Karen down here. We’d got a plan. We’re sharing the money – £50,000.”

Karen denied any involvement in the plot but Shannon was taken into care immediately.

Mother and daughter were reunited on April 3, but three days later Karen was charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice.

Both Karen and Matthew denied any involvement. On December 4 they were both found guilty of guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice by unanimous decision and were later sentenced to eight years each in prison.

After the verdict, Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan said: “Karen Matthews is pure evil. She started deceiving those closest to her from the very moment that Shannon was kidnapped. 

“Friends, neighbours and family were under the clear impression that Shannon was genuinely missing.

“They had no reason to believe that Shannon had been taken as part of an elaborate scam or hoax. It’s difficult to understand what type of mother would subject her own daughter to such a wicked and evil crime.”

Karen and Matthew were both released in 2012 having served half of their terms. Shannon, now 18 years old, was given a new identity and lives with another family.

The Moorside airs tonight on BBC One at 9pm.