THE man accused of kidnapping schoolgirl Shannon Matthews was described in court today as "a bit creepy" by his own niece.

Caroline Meehan was giving evidence in the trial of Michael Donovan, 40, and Karen Matthews, 33, at Leeds Crown Court.

Both are charged with kidnapping and falsely imprisoning Shannon as well as perverting the course of justice.

The charges relate to the 24-day disappearance of Shannon in February and March this year when the little girl was nine.

Ms Meehan was asked by Mrs Frances Oldham, QC, for Matthews, if she agreed with the description that her uncle was "a loner, a strange character, a bit creepy and a fantasist?"

"Yes", she replied.

She told the court she saw little of her uncle in the 24 days when Shannon was missing.

Ms Meehan had told the jury that in the weeks before, Donovan was an almost daily visitor to her house. He would come to help her mother, Alice Meehan, who was living with her at the time.

She added: "That's what he was doing. He would come to see us for periods and then he would go away and not hear from him."

The jury was told that Donovan "loved" his two daughters and fought to have custody of them when his marriage broke up.

Ms Meehan agreed with Peter Conrad QC, defending Donovan, when he said: "He loved them. They were taken into care after he fought for custody of them."

She also agreed that her uncle changed his name from Paul Drake to Michael Donovan - a name he took from the sci-fi TV show "V".

The court heard that he took this name despite having a brother called Michael.

Ms Meehan confirmed she was arrested in April on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

She said police asked her about a phone call between her and her mother Alice - Donovan's sister.

Ms Meehan said the officers asked whether her mother said to her: "Don't worry. They'll never find out. Don't worry, as long as you keep your mouth shut."

But she told the court: "My mum never said that to me."

A neighbour of Donovan told the court she heard a toddler's footsteps and laughter in the defendant's flat during the time Shannon was missing.

June Batley said she heard the noises on about three separate occasions.

Ms Batley said: "We heard tiny footsteps which we thought was a toddler, not a nine-year-old. No way."

She told the jury that in the months before February this year she believed Donovan had a new girlfriend.

She said she assumed the "toddler" she heard was this new partner's child.

Asked if she ever saw a child, she said: "No. Never. Just heard laughter of a child. It only seemed like a young, young child."

Ms Batley said she knew Donovan quite well as he would come to her flat, which was below his, for coffee and a chat.

She agreed he suffered from a condition which meant his legs would give way and that he went to a special school and had learning difficulties.

She said he could be friendly at times, but could appear ignorant on other occasions.

Asked about the time when he lost custody of his daughter, she agreed he was "devastated".

The jury has been told Shannon was drugged and restrained with a strap tied to a roof beam after her mother hatched a plan to make £50,000 from her faked kidnap.

The court heard Shannon was kept locked in a flat for 24 days by Donovan, who police believe used an elasticated strap with a noose on the end to tether her when he went out.

Prosecutors at Leeds Crown Court said Donovan drugged the nine-year-old with Temazepam and travel sickness tablets and gave her a list of "rules".

All the time Shannon's mother, Matthews, kept up a "wicked and dishonest lie" - knowing all the time where her daughter was as police conducted a massive search operation which eventually cost almost £3.2 million, the jury was told

  • The case was adjourned until Monday.