THE mum of Shannon Matthews has allegedy confessed that her daughter’s abduction was just a Shameless scam.Sobbing Karen Matthews, 32, was arrested on suspicion of perverting justice after reportedly telling a woman detective she had known where Shannon was all along.Officers are now investigating claims that the alleged scam was based on a storyline in hit telly series Shameless.Karen is said to have confessed to her police family liaison officer, who was assigned to comfort her over her “ordeal”.Last night, she was being questioned by detectives over allegations that the 24-day police search for nine-year-old Shannon – Britain’s biggest-ever hunt for a missing person – was a waste of time.In an episode of the Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless, screened just four weeks before Shannon vanished, family head Frank Gallagher’s teenage daughter Debbie staged the fake kidnap of her younger brother Liam in a bid to pocket a £500,000 ransom.“Missing” Liam – played by Johnny Bennett, nine, – was hidden by Debbie (Rebecca Ryan, 16) at a pal’s home just down the road.Police are examining a copy of the episode, which was seen by 2.5 million viewers. Last night, they were also probing claims that Shannon’s relatives tried to pocket a donation from the fund set up to find Madeleine McCann, four, who vanished from a Portuguese holiday apartment last May.The McCann family’s spokesman Clarence Mitchell told the Daily Star they had received “a number of approaches” for handouts from people claiming to be members of Shannon’s family.They had considered making a donation but decided against it due to the “haphazard” nature of the approaches.The arrest of Shannon’s mother came three weeks after the schoolgirl was found in the flat of computer programmer Michael Donovan, 39, just a mile from her home in Dewsbury, West Yorks.Donovan, the uncle of Matthews’ partner Craig Meehan, is now in custody on charges of kidnapping and falsely imprisoning Shannon.
David Beckham gives £8m home to in-laws
BIG-HEARTED David Beckham is gifting his £8million Dubai mansion to wife Victoria's parents.
The England soccer star has handed the keys to the waterfront villa—set on an exclusive palm-shaped artificial island—to delighted in-laws Tony and Jackie Adams.
Becks bought the property in 2002 for £800,000. But since then its value has rocketed as Dubai has taken off as a holiday destination.
Although he and Posh will still own the mansion, they have told Tony, 61, and Jackie, 59, to decorate it to their liking—and are allowing them to spend as much time as they want in the stunning home.
Family
A source close to the 32-year-old player, who is now with American side LA Galaxy, revealed: "David realised he was not going to be able to spend any time in Dubai.
"He's got his commitments in Los Angeles and it's a long trip, especially when he still has to spend a lot of time in London.
"So he discussed it with Victoria and decided that the Dubai place would be a really special present for her parents. They've done so much for the family already and are involved in all of David and Victoria's ventures anyway.
"He trusts them completely and knows the property will be in very safe hands. He still retains legal ownership, but on a day-to-day basis it's to become their place.
"He's a practical guy and thinks there's no reason to have an amazing house sitting empty.
"David and Victoria have told them they might visit once or twice a year for some family time, although at the moment that seems quite unlikely because they're so busy."
The gift could be viewed as a snub to David's divorced parents, Ted and Sandra, who have had a more rocky relationship with the couple in recent years.
But the Beckham insider said: "All of David's family will be allowed access to the house if they want it. They'd just have to sort out a time with Tony and Jackie.
"David is a family man. He loves his parents and he'd never want to cut them out."
Becks purchased the luxury home within the prestigious Palm Jumeirah estate after a visit to the Gulf state before the 2002 World Cup.
In other news…
· Geri Halliwell is dating dancer IVAN “FLIPZ” VELEZ after they hit off on the SPICE GIRLS tour. They stepped out together for the first time on Sunday at the Idol Gives Back charity bash in Hollywood. BRAD PITT was among the guests.
· Fears were raised today after stricken kids’ TV star Mark Speight went missing. The 42-year-old, from Enfield, north London, who is described as “vulnerable”, has not been seen since yesterday, Scotland Yard said. Speight's disappearance comes six days after the inquest into the death of his fiancé Natasha Collins heard that she died in a bath of scalding water after they shared a giant cocaine binge.
· Talk show host Trisha Goddard has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The mum-of-two, 50, was said to be “exhausted with worry” after a lump was found during a routine mammogram.
· THE Beeb is getting cold feet over planned reality show Jesus Christ Superstar – amid fears of a religious backlash. Andrew Lloyd Webber wants to find an unknown to star as Jesus for the stage musical next year. But BBC bosses are worried it could cause the sort of anger that surrounded Jerry Springer: The Opera.
CLIPS
For anyone who's missed out so far...
No comments:
Post a Comment