'Most hated mother' Karen Matthews wants plastic surgery to stop people attacking her in the street

Karen Matthews wants plastic surgery to stop people from recognising her and attacking her in the street, it has been reported.

Dubbed the most hated mother in Britain, she was jailed for eight years in 2008 after faking the kidnap of her own daughter, nine-year-old Shannon, in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

The 41-year-old has reportedly said she wants plastic surgery to change her appearance.

She was released from prison in 2012 after serving half of her sentence, and is now a teetotal born-again Christian, living on benefits under a new name in a town in the south of England.

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The Mirror reported that Matthews has told a friend: “I would love to get plastic surgery, make my nose smaller so nobody would recognise me.”

Matthews, a mother-of-seven, claims she has been attacked in the street and had fireworks thrown at her.

The disappearance of her daughter, Shannon, in February 2008 sparked a massive police operation, and Matthews made numerous appeals to the public to help find her.

However, almost a month later, Shannon was found drugged and tied to a bed in the home of Michael Donovan, the uncle of Matthews’ then boyfriend, Craig Meehan.

Matthews and Donovan, who had planned to claim £50,000 in reward money, were later found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice and each sentenced to eight years in prison.

Although it was established that Meehan had nothing to do with the kidnapping, he was later convicted of possessing child pornography, which was discovered on his computer during the police investigation.

According to The Mirror, Matthews told a friend she was repeatedly attacked by other inmates while in prison.

She told the friend: “They even throw bangers at me in the street.

“Every time I look in the mirror it’s that thought, ‘Why am I still here after everything I’ve done?’ I deserve everything I get really.

“If it wasn’t for the kids I wouldn’t be here. I feel sad and embarrassed to call myself a mum. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry to all the people I’ve hurt.”

Matthews also told the friend: “I’m done with men.”

Shannon, now aged 18, is not believed to have any contact with her mother since she was found a new home after the sentencing.

The events surrounding the kidnap are to be dramatised in an upcoming BBC film, called The Moorside Project.

It will star Game Of Thrones actress Gemma Whelan as Matthews and Sheridan Smith as her friend, Julie Bushby, who helped organise the search for Shannon.

(Pictures: PA/Rex)