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Chilling List Of Rules Shannon Matthews Was Forced To Follow During Kidnap Revealed

Kimberley Bond

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| Last updated 

Chilling List Of Rules Shannon Matthews Was Forced To Follow During Kidnap Revealed

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Shannon Matthews was told "not to make any noise" or even "go near the window" in a chilling list of rules she was forced to follow while she was tethered to a bed during her disappearance.

The list was discussed was discussed on recent Channel 5 documentary, The Disappearance of Shannon Matthews.

Nine-year-old Shannon, who went missing in February 2008, was found 24 days later as it emerged she had been used as part of a horrifying kidnap plot cooked up by her mother, Karen Matthews, and Michael Donovan - the uncle of Karen's partner at the time.

Shannon went missing in February 2008 (Credit: PA Images)
Shannon went missing in February 2008 (Credit: PA Images)
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Shannon had been kept hidden in Michael's attic throughout her ordeal, and had been drugged and tethered to a divan bed to limit her movement and keep her quiet.

Upon searching the rest of the house, police found a handwritten note which was headed up as 'Rules'.

The short list contained a set of strict instructions that Shannon had to follow while hidden - before being signed off IPU - short for 'I promise you', something Shannon and Karen would say to each other.

The note had a strict set of instructions (Credit: West Yorkshire Police)
The note had a strict set of instructions (Credit: West Yorkshire Police)
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The note read: "You must not make any noise or bang your feet" as well as "you must not go near the windows".

Other rules included: "You must not get anything or do anything without me been [sic] here," as well as "Keeping the TV volume up to eight or lower."

"You can play the Super Mario games and you can play some DVD's and you can play the CD music," the note read.

Detective Inspector Chris Walker said: "Found within the flat was a piece of paper.

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"It was handwritten and there was about four or five different rules.

Shannon's disappearance prompted one of the largest manhunts in West Yorkshire's history (PA Images)
Shannon's disappearance prompted one of the largest manhunts in West Yorkshire's history (PA Images)

"That you've got to keep quiet, stay away from the windows, don't have the TV volume above a certain level, some DVDs you can watch, but only these ones.

"And then at the bottom of it in large letters was IPU, which was a phrase that Karen and Shannon used and it stood for 'I promise you'."

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Shannon was initially reported missing after she failed to return home from a swimming lesson at Westmoor Primary School, in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

Coupled with the intense media scrutiny, the West Yorkshire Police launched one of its largest investigations in the area since the search for the Yorkshire Ripper 30 years earlier.

Shannon Matthews wanted to claim the money for herself (Credit: PA)
Shannon Matthews wanted to claim the money for herself (Credit: PA)

It was thought that Michael - also known as Paul Drake - was going to "find" Shannon, and would have split the £50,000 reward with Karen.

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Michael was charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment, while Karen was charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice.

They were both found guilty and were served with eight year prison sentences.

Topics: UK News, True Crime, Documentary, Channel 5

Kimberley Bond
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