Shannon neighbour on fraud charges

Jul 29 2009

A neighbour who played a major role in the search for abducted schoolgirl Shannon Matthews is due to appear in court accused of benefit fraud.

Amanda Hyett, sister of Craig Meehan, the former partner of Shannon's mother Karen Matthews, will face magistrates in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, charged with seven counts of benefit fraud.

The charges are believed to involve housing benefit and income support claims totalling around £43,000.

Hyett, 26, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire, became a well-known figure after she became involved in the hunt for Shannon, who disappeared in February last year.

She took part in candlelit vigils for the missing girl, gave television interviews and was a frequent visitor to Matthews's home.

Shannon, then aged nine, was missing for 24 days, sparking a huge search operation, before she was found in the base of a bed on March 14.

Her mother and Michael Donovan, the uncle of Hyett and Meehan, were convicted last year of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.

They were both jailed for eight years for conspiring to keep Shannon drugged and imprisoned at Donovan's home in a desperate plan to claim £50,000 in reward money.

Hyett will appear at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court.