The man accused of kidnapping Shannon Matthews told his trial today that he had used cash from his incapacity benefits to buy her Disney films and Bratz toys as well as clothes and pizzas during the 24 days she spent in his flat.

Michael Donovan, 40, of Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, went into the witness box at Leeds Crown Court the day after the trial was halted so that he could get treatment for injuries he received in an attack in prison. Within minutes, he had to be asked repeatedly to speak louder by the judge, Mr Justice McCombe.

Mr Donovan and Shannon's mother, Karen Matthews, 33, deny kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice over Shannon's disappearance in February and March this year, when she was nine.

Mr Donovan told the court about the day on which Shannon disappeared, on February 19. He said that he had waited about 10 or 15 minutes before the girl approached his car. He said: “I told Karen to bring Shannon down but she didn’t. Shannon came down by herself, on her own.”

He told the jury the little girl said to him: “My mum told me you were taking me to the fair tonight.”

“It was right foggy and awful that night. I don’t know exactly why she said that,” he added. “I drove around Dewsbury and the fog was getting really down.”

Mr Donovan said that he told Shannon they could not go to the fair because of the fog. He told the jury: “I told her that we’ll have to go back to my flat now.”

He told the court Shannon then said: “My mum said I’ll be stopping at your flat.”

Mr Donovan said that he was surprised the youngster had nothing with her except the clothes she was wearing. His barrister, Alan Conrad QC, asked him what contact he had with Karen Matthews during the 24 days Shannon was at his flat.

He said his co-accused was supposed to ring at 10pm on the 19th but she did not. Mr Donovan said she rang the following day, apparently on his sister Alice Meehan’s phone. Mr Donovan told the jury: “She told me ’Is everything all right? Is she settled down?’ I told her ’Yes’.”

Mr Donovan said he asked Ms Matthews why Shannon had no clothes or toys. “She told me ’You’ve got money - go and buy them’.”

He went on: “I asked if she wanted to speak to Shannon and she said ’No, I’ve got to keep it short, stick to the plan, Mike’.”

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