Shannon Matthews’ kidnapper Michael Donovan dies from cancer
The man who infamously kidnapped nine-year-old Shannon Matthews has died with throat cancer in hospital.
Mick Donovan, 54, snatched the little girl from an estate and held her captive for 24 days at his nearby flat in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in February, 2008.
He had been part of a sick plot with her mother Karen Matthews to try and claim the £50,000 reward for finding her.
But police ended up discovering Shannon in the drawer of a divan bed, with Donovan, hiding in the other drawer.
Now The Sun has revealed that Donovan, who has since changed his name to Aiden Johnson, was pronounced dead at Three Valleys Hospital, in Keighley, on Tuesday.
He had been living at the secure mental health facility since his release from prison in 2012.
In February, Donovan was given just three months to live after doctors discovered he had Stage 3 throat cancer.
Sources quoted by the newspaper said he did not have any visitors in his last few months alive – Donovan’s family disowned him 2022.
One said he “would not be missed” as he was “a very unpleasant bloke”.
They went on: "He kept to himself but he had a horrible temper if he wasn't happy with something - usually the food.
"He liked his cheese sandwiches and that was about it."
Donovan and Shannon’s mother were convicted of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.
They were both sentenced to eight years behind bars.