Friend of Shannon Matthews' mum shares bizarre detail Karen included in prison letters

A former friend of Karen Matthews has shared the bizarre detail, she claims, was always included in letters from the jailed mum in prison. Julie Bushby still remains as one of the residents on The Moorside Estate, where nine-year-old Shannon Matthews became the victim of a kidnap plot in 2008.

In a story that gripped the nation, detectives soon discovered that her disappearance was staged by Shannon's mother Karen and Michael Donovan, the uncle of her partner at the time.

The duo had hid Shannon in Donovan's flat, less than a mile away from her home, and managed to keep her quiet with the use of sedatives.

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Their sick plan was to eventually release Karen's daughter and pretend that Donovan had found her, in exchange for £50,000 reward money.

Details from the case have come to light again in Amazon's new documentary, The Hunt for Shannon Matthews.

In the series, residents from the estate in Dewsbury, West York, including Julie, share their version of events from the 24-day investigation that finally led to the truth.

Julie was not just a neighbour to Karen, but also chair of the local tenants and residents association, who helped coordinate search efforts and ensured that Shannon’s case was kept in public view.

Reflecting on the moment she realised Karen had her fooled, she said: "Karen had so many opportunities to come forward. The police had her on her own numerous times, so she could have told the truth."

Julie also remembered a time when, she claims, Shannon's mum looked "stony-faced" during the search, as neighbours rallied around her and showed their support.

"I couldn't get a true reaction out of her. I thought it was because there were so many people around," she shared, according to The Sunday Mail's Love Magazine.

Just over three weeks into the search, police received a tip-off from a member of the public to search a flat a mile away from the estate, where Shannon was discovered under a bed.

As the investigation unfolded, Karen and Donovan were arrested and later stood trial at Leeds Crown Court. In January 2009, they were each convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison.

Despite giving evidence against Karen, Julie said she visited the jailed mum, who also wrote several letters to her.

Letters included Karen thanking Julie for supporting her, as well as conversations about gifts she wanted to receive in prison.

Bizarrely, Julie said they also always came decorated with flowery doodles, as she likened the jailed mum to "a child".

Sharing how she feels towards her former friend now after cutting all contact, Julie said: "She's pathetic. I never heard her say 'I'm sorry' to me, the community or the state for all the money spent."

Karen was released from prison in April 2012 after serving approximately half of her sentence. As for Donavon, he died last year following a battle with cancer.

Shannon, now 27, was given a new identity after being placed in emergency social services care following the ordeal.

The Hunt for Shannon Matthews is available to watch on Prime Video.