Social workers 'warned of Matthews'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Mother-of-seven Karen Matthews, 33, was condemned by police on Thursday as "pure evil" after a judge told her she faces a substantial jail sentence.

Later allegations emerged that Matthews children had been placed on the child protection register but later taken off despite concerns about violence in the household and poor living conditions.

A BBC documentary team, which was given exclusive access to West Yorkshire Police's investigation, said social workers commissioned a psychological report about Matthews highlighting her "inability to successfully place the children's needs above her own" in December 2003 - three years before Shannon went missing.

The Panorama programme said the report concluded: "Her ability to protect her children is compromised by her inability to successfully place the children's needs above her own. I believe that Karen will require constant monitoring and support throughout the lives of her children."

According to the documentary, Matthews' children were removed from the child protection register by the time the report was completed.

The documentary alleged that despite ongoing concerns about violence in the home and the effect this might have on the children "they were never considered at risk of significant harm" and not placed back on the child protection register.

Kirklees Social Services said it was limited in what it could say about the Matthews family for legal reasons.

On Thursday Matthews was found guilty of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice at Leeds Crown Court along with her co-accused Michael Donovan.

Matthews conspired with Donovan, 40, her partner's uncle, to keep her nine-year-old daughter drugged and imprisoned for 24 days in a desperate plan to claim £50,000 in reward money.