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Shannon Matthews, the schoolgirl who went missing in february this year, was drugged and tied up in the flat where she was later found, Leeds Crown Court have heard.

Karen Matthews (Shannon’s mother), is currently on trial for kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice, along with Michael Donovan. Their plan was to keep Shannon imprisoned in Donovan’s flat, then to release her later in the local market where Donovan would find her and claim the £50,000 reward money for her rescue.

Medical tests showed that she had been given temazepam and travel sickness pills to subdue her, and that she was also tied up when Donovan left the flat.

Over the 24 day period in which Shannon was imprisoned it is estimated that it cost West Yorkshire Police almost £3.2m. The search involved 300 officers, and was one of the highest profile missing persons cases ever seen in England. 1,800 homes were searched and three-quarters of all the UK’s specially-trained police dogs were used in the search.

During this time, Shannon’s mother frequently appeared on TV, pleaing for the safe return of her daughter.

Shannon was eventually found after neighbours of Donovan raised the alarm. They found Shannon inside one half of the base of a double bed. Donovan was in the other half.

Matthews and Donovan both claim their innocence. The trial continues this week.