This, is Shannon Matthews.
Shannon was recently kidnapped, Madeline McCann-style. There was the customary, massive police search & she was found after 24 days. Significantly - there was a bit of a fuss over the fact that there was no 'Where's Maddie' sort of campaign going on & that this was attributed to the fact the girl was from a poor, working-class family.
They were probably right - although I must point out that this lot have never done a day's work in their lives.
This, is Shannon's mother, Karen, 37 (mother of 7 - 5 different dads) kissing her live-in boyfriend, Craig Meehan, 22, (descibed as Shannon's 'stepfather' - )
The one on the left is the little girl's dad - muppets.
We all felt sorry for the mother as she pleaded for the kidnapper to return her daughter safe on the news each night.
Kids released what look like paper planes to promote the cause & such.
It was all pretty lame really.
Shannon was found with Craig's uncle, less than a mile from the family home.
1994
There were the usual scenes of joy when she was found. The uncle was remanded in custody & Shannon was taken into care to be questioned. She was not reunited with her mother who has since seen her only once, for a few seconds, through a two-way mirror.
Then it all went pear-shaped.
The boyfriend was nailed for possessing indecent images of children & is now remanded in custody for his 'protection'.
Karen was furious & vowed to have nothing to do with him ever again.
The unemployed turned out in force to scream abuse as he was led into court.
Meet Shannon's aunt (good looks must run in the family) who has been arrested after suspicions were raised when she telephoned those in charge of the Madeline McCann fund asking for money to help search for Shannon
Also in the photo is her grandmother - both have been chgarged with perverting the course of justice.
After that, Karen gets arrested.
Does all this seem strangely familiar to you?
You're not going to believe this.
The mother & the uncle planned to use the money they thought they would raise from a Madeline McCann-style fund & run away together & got the idea to stage the kidnapping after watching an episode of Shameless, the TV show
Needless to say, this bunch of clowns are all bang to rights & in the nick (except the sister & granny, who are on bail) looking at God-knows how long.After the news announces Frank has won £500,000 on the lottery the estate begin asking him for favours. Debbie doesn't believe it, and kidnaps Liam, holding him at ransom.
Wiki
Anybody wanting a closer look at this this bizzare circus can find it here.
BBC NEWS | England | West Yorkshire | Shannon mother remanded by court
The sad thing to come out of all this is that all seven of the mother's kids have been taken into care.
She'll never see them again.