Karen Matthews receives death threats after TV drama The Moorside about daughter Shannon’s kidnap – amid fears she could be moved into HIDING
TWISTED Karen Matthews received a barrage of death threats last night after BBC drama The Moorside based on her daughter's fake kidnapping was shown on TV.
The 41-year-old was dubbed 'Britain's most hated mum' in 2008 after snatching her daughter Shannon in a bizarre get rich quick plot.
She was caged for eight years after the schoolgirl was found drugged inside the base of a divan bed in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.
It later emerged that mum Karen had orchestrated the whole plot so she could bag the £50,000 reward money and split it with her accomplice Michael Donovan.
Karen is now a teetotal born-again Christian, living on benefits in southern England under a new name.
She has been slammed on Twitter after a BBC drama about the fake abduction was shown on TV last night.
Kerry ranted: “Anyone else wanna bury that Karen f***ing Matthews wtf mental bitch I'd bite her face off #moorside she makes me so angry.”
Celebrity Jodie Marsh said: “I'd go as far as to say that it's ppl like Karen Matthews who make me think we should all be sterilised from birth then vetted to have kids.”
Andy raged: “The evil cow wants putting to sleep.”
Another added: “Karen Matthews - I would love to smack you in the face, you vile, horrible bitch!!!”
Zoe said: “Would love to boot Karen Matthews straight in her trampy face, vile."
But Ross joked: “I bet Karen Matthews is at home watching this shouting at the telly like eh why dint Michelle Keegan play me.”
The BBC drama – starring Gemma Whelan as Matthews and Sheridan Smith as her best mate Julie Bushby – concludes next week.
Some now fear Karen could be moved into hiding to protect her.
After leaving prison in 2012, Karen moved hundreds of miles away from her home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and adopted a new name – which has not been revealed.
Unlike Maxine Carr, who was jailed after the Soham murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, she has not been given a new identity including a new National Insurance number and passport.
The move would have cost the taxpayer around £250,000 and required Matthews to keep her real identity a secret.
But officials were so concerned that she would jeopardise it and her safety by failing to keep it hidden that they ruled it out.
The mum of seven’s past has made it impossible for her to find a job and she now survives on £25-a-week benefits.
Last night we told how Matthews' former pal Julie Bushby - played by Sheridan Smith in the BBC1 show - believes she knows the real reason why she lied about Shannon's kidnap.
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