Kidnap mum Karen Matthews living less than mile away from fire killer Mairead Philpot as she hides behind facemask
TWO of "Britain's worst mums" now live just minutes away from each other.
Mairead Philpott, who killed her six kids in a fire, has moved into a property less than a mile from where child kidnap plotter Karen Matthews calls home.
The evil neighbours reside in a town in the south east of England, where Philpott has been spotted hiding behind a face mask.
The 40-year-old was freed in November 2020 after serving half of her 17-year manslaughter jail term for her role in a 2012 blaze that killed her six kids, aged five to 13.
Jade, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, all died in the fire on the morning of May 11.
Mairead's son from a previous relationship, 13-year-old Duwayne, passed away three days later in hospital.
The mum and her husband Mick started the arson plot, hoping to frame an ex-girlfriend after "rescuing" the children and scoring a bigger council house.
But their plan went tragically wrong and Mick, Mairead and their accomplice Paul Mosley were jailed.
Most read in The Sun
Mairead and Paul have since been released, but Mick is not due for parole until at least 2027.
The monster mum last year moved into a hostel which offers weekly yoga and art classes - as well as Christmas hampers packed full of goodies - costing the taxpayer £600 a week.
But she has since set herself up in a new home - just a short stroll from Matthews, reports.
A source said: "It's bizarre that Matthews and Philpott have both settled so close to each other."
Matthews was dubbed "Britain's worst mum" after her part in the kidnap of her nine-year-old daughter in 2008.
Schoolgirl Shannon was found tethered and drugged inside the base of a double bed almost a month after she was reported missing.
Matthews was going out with accomplice Michael Donovan’s nephew Craig Meehan at the time and they had planned to release Shannon and claim the police reward money.
But they were found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.
The mum-of-seven was sentenced to eight years behind bars, but served just half of her time and was released from prison in 2012.
She was given a new identity upon her release, and was spotted flat hunting with her paedophile fiancé, Paul Saunders, in December 2020.
At the time, which was also when Philpott was released, The Sun revealed how Matthews wanted to become pals with her in a twisted "Britain's worst mums" club.
'BRITAIN'S WORST MUMS CLUB'
An associate of Matthews revealed: “She has said that she could be there for Mairead if she wants to meet her.
“She says she understands what it is like to be branded the worst mum in Britain so they could be the worst mums together.
“Karen says Mairead will be scared and lonely on her own and she could be a friendly face if she needed one.
“Matthews has virtually no friends herself so she’s desperate to be mates with anyone – even a convicted killer.”
'CONCEALING HER PAST'
Both women have attempted to change their appearances to try to keep a low profile.
In March 2021, Philpott showed off her new dark-haired look as she bundled bags of goodies and wrapping paper into the back of a waiting car.
She has since dyed her hair blonde and taken to wearing camouflage get-up, as well as a Covid face mask in public.
A source said: "Mairead is desperately trying to change her look, even wearing camo gear.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
";She’ll need to do more than that to conceal her past."
Matthews has also experimented with lighter and jet-black locks, as well as hiding behind sunglasses and headbands.
