Karen Matthews 'released from prison'

Mother jailed for eight years in 2009 over plot to abduct nine-year-old daughter Shannon Matthews thought to have been freed Share 12 reddit this Press Association guardian.co.uk, Thursday 5 April 2012 20.03 BST Article history Karen Matthews Shannon Matthews (left) and her mother Karen, who is thought to have been released from jail. Photograph: West Yorkshire Police/PA A mother jailed for eight years for what a judge called a "truly despicable" plot to abduct her nine-year-old daughter is thought to have been released. Karen Matthews, then 33, was sent to Foston Hall prison near Derby after being jailed in January 2009 for the kidnap of her daughter Shannon. She is believed to have been released after serving half her sentence, including almost 10 months on remand. There was no official confirmation of her release, but Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the probation union Napo, said Matthews would be on licence for the rest of her sentence.