EXCLUSIVE: Karen Matthews’ duped greatest good friend will get new job in similar courtroom complicated the place Britain’s worst mom was lastly despatched to jail for faking her personal daughter’s kidnap

A girl on the coronary heart of the infamous Shannon Matthews affair – later performed by Sheridan Smith in a dramatisation – has bought a job in the identical courtroom complicated at which the kidnapped schoolgirl’s scheming mom Karen was lastly despatched to jail.

Julie Bushby was the duped greatest good friend of Karen Matthews who led the marketing campaign to seek out Shannon when she disappeared, not figuring out she had been taken by her personal mom in a weird faux kidnap.

Now, in a brand new twist within the saga, Bushby has began working as a black gowned usher at Leeds Justice of the Peace Courtroom – in the identical courtroom complicated the place Matthews ultimately went on trial.

Bushby now commutes each day to the courtroom from the tip of terrace home on The Moorside property in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, which grew to become a base for briefing the media when Shannon’s disappearance grew to become a worldwide story in 2008.

Bushby was Karen’s good friend and neighbour who was on the centre of organising the search get together for ‘lacking’ Shannon. She additionally chaired the property’s residents and tenants affiliation that helped uncover the stunning fact concerning the merciless rip-off.

A girl on the coronary heart of the infamous Shannon Matthews affair has bought a job in the identical courtroom complicated at which the kidnapped schoolgirl’s scheming mom Karen was lastly despatched to jail (pictured: Shannon Matthews’ mom Karen, proper, and then-partner Craig Meehan, left, enchantment outdoors local people centre)

Julie Bushby (pictured) was the duped greatest good friend of Karen Matthews who led the marketing campaign to seek out Shannon when she disappeared, not figuring out she had been taken by her personal mom in a weird faux kidnap

Bushby (pictured) has began working as a black gowned usher at Leeds Justice of the Peace Courtroom – in the identical courtroom complicated the place Matthews ultimately went on trial

Bushby later instructed a Channel 5 documentary she felt ‘damage and conned’ by Matthews after she deceived the general public.

She added: ‘The entire group have been let down. We have been silly sufficient to consider what got here out of her mouth and her household’s mouths.

‘As a group I believe we must always nonetheless be happy with ourselves. You’d must dwell via it to consider it.’

The nation was shocked when – 24 days after she went lacking – Shannon was discovered hidden within the divan mattress on the house of Karen’s fiancé Craig Meehan’s uncle, Michael Donovan.

Julie has disputed claims that Karen cooked up the rip-off in a bid to assert the £50,000 reward cash for locating Shannon.

She claims Karen was making an attempt to get away from Meehan.

The 2 buddies haven’t stored in contact through the years though Bushby visited Matthews in jail.

The courtroom the place Julie works now could be only a stone’s throw from the town’s crown courtroom complicated the place the sensational kidnap trial happened.

For a seat on the press bench at Leeds journalists wanted a ticket. Solely a handful bought to take a seat in the identical room as Matthews and Donovan, their authorized groups, the jury and the choose Mr Justice McCombe.

The rest watched it in an adjoining courtroom by way of a dwell video hyperlink.

Julie Bushby gave proof in opposition to her good friend on the trial in November 2008.

It helped convict Matthews who was discovered responsible in December and later jailed for eight years, the identical as Donovan.

Julie, performed by Smith in The Moorside, the TV drama concerning the case, refused to remark when requested about her new job.

As a courtroom usher, she is liable for ticking off defendants as they arrive at courtroom and calling them into one of many courtrooms when their case is on.

These making their preliminary courtroom look on the courtroom embody these dealing with prices for probably the most severe offences akin to rape and homicide.

After making their preliminary appearances on the decrease courtroom their instances are then despatched to the crown courtroom for sentence.

Courtroom ushers, now often known as courtroom administration officers, begin on £18,000 a yr however can earn £24,500 a yr with expertise.

Leeds Magistrates’ Courtroom (pictured) the place Julie works now could be only a stone’s throw from the town’s crown courtroom complicated the place the sensational kidnap trial happened

Bushby was later performed by Sheridan Smith (centre) in a dramatisation

Shannon was raised by a brand new household underneath a brand new identification and is now an grownup 

Matthews is infamous for faking the kidnap of her nine-year-old daughter, Shannon

The crime had been a plot between Matthews and Michael Donovan, the uncle of her then boyfriend, to assert £50,000 of reward cash 

Candidates solely want a few GCSEs to use however in response to the job description ‘authorized data together with courtroom procedures’ is seen as a particular benefit for these making an attempt to get a foot within the door.

They’re employed by the Ministry of Justice and topic to enhanced background checks.

Having checked the required witnesses, defendants and legal professionals are current, a courtroom usher will even name defendants and witnesses into courtroom and direct the taking of oaths.

Different duties would possibly embody labelling proof and passing that proof to the choose and jury and passing messages between legal professionals and authorized advisers.

Courtroom ushers put on darkish garments and calf-length black robes. When promoted, they’ll grow to be supervising ushers, overseeing a crew.

Neighbours on the Moorside have been conscious of Julie’s job. One stated: ‘She retains herself very busy.’