Sister of Shannon Matthews' kidnapper told police 'go to his house' on day one

The family of Shannon Matthews ’ kidnapper Mick Donovan say they warned police he could have her on day one of their hunt.

His sister, who asked not to be named, alleges her “check out my brother” pleas were ignored at the beginning of the £3.2million search for Shannon.

The nine-year-old’s disappearance prompted one of the biggest manhunts in UK history back in February 2008.

She was discovered 24 days later, hidden under Donovan’s bed in Batley Carr, West Yorks.

Donovan and Shannon’s mother, Karen Matthews, were jailed for eight years in 2009.

But Donovan’s sister, who is speaking out for the first time, denies the family stayed silent and told how she alerted West Yorkshire Police.

Donovan was jailed for eight years in 2009 (PA)

Shannon’s mother, Karen Matthews, was also jailed for eight years (MDM)

In a shocking new documentary, she claims: “Not one of them believed me when I said, ‘Go to his house’.”

Yesterday, the force strongly denied her accusations.

The sister made the claims in new documentary, The Man Who Took Shannon, which will air on Channel 5 on Thursday.

She said: “The day Shannon went missing, I was listening to the radio and it said a child’s gone missing, named her. I knew he had her. All I could think… he’s done it once before… What if he has…?

“I called the police and said, ‘Check out my brother, please’. I got no response whatsoever from them… they didn’t care or believe me. “

Shannon was found under a bed in Donovan's home (PA)

Another relative, who also did not wish to be named, said he raised the alarm and called Crimestoppers some time after the search started.

He told how he confronted Donovan after he started borrowing cartoon DVDs. “I thought it were a bit strange,” he said. “I believed he had Shannon, so went round. He wouldn’t let me in.”

Eventually Shannon was found after this relative told officers visiting his home: “You want to go see Mick Donovan… he’s related to Craig Meehan [Karen’s ex].”

The next day police found Donovan cowering under his bed with Shannon.

A base of a bed shown as evidence by the prosecution in the kidnap and false imprisonment trial (PA)

West Yorkshire Police said they “conducted a thorough investigation into the kidnap”.

They added: “The records do not support this account of a call made to the police on 19/02/2008.”

Crimestoppers said: “Our charity takes crime information completely anonymously. No personal details are ever asked for, or stored.”

Donovan, 53, was released from jail in 2012 but was recalled after “acting bizarrely” near Leeds market. The MoJ said his full sentence expired in 2016.

His family say he remains locked up and has been moved to a psychiatric facility.