MONSTER MUM KAREN’S ONLY PAL IS HER BUDGIE

THE mum jailed for kidnapping her own daughter only has a budgie to talk to.

Karen Matthews, 44 – dubbed the UK’s worst mother – calls tiny Bobby her “son”.

The mum of seven is said to confide in her pet as she has got no-one else in her life.

“The budgie is now her only friend in the world,” said a source close to Matthews.

“She asks him for advice on a daily basis. She has no-one else now.”

Matthews used to own two birds but the other – Archie – died last year.

Our source said: “She treats him like a child and calls him her ‘baby boy’.”

Matthews, who was locked up over the fake kidnap of daughter Shannon, lives in a one-bedroom flat.

She and accomplice Michael Donovan were found guilty of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice in December 2008.

They were both jailed for eight years. Matthews served half her sentence. The pair plotted to get £50,000 reward money put up after the disappearance of Shannon – then nine – in Dewsbury, West Yorks. She was found 24 days later in Donovan’s flat. Last year, Matthews complained that she was lonely and was getting a pet. She later added: “I talk to Bob when I get home.”

It was revealed this month that she is trying to sell the rights to her autobiography to pay for cosmetic surgery.

She wants to raise £12,000 for a nose job and an eye lift, and to have her teeth redone.

Matthews hopes having a makeover will allow her to go unrecognised.

She has contacted two publishers but wants an upfront payment for the book to fund surgery straight away.

A source said: “Her book will tell her story and how she thinks everyone has got her wrong.”

Last week, it was reported Karen wants to start a business supporting the families of missing children.

She has even offered her services to Kate and Gerry McCann, whose daughter Madeleine vanished in 2007 aged three.

Matthews was said to be inspired by a new Netflix documentary about her.

A source said: “She thinks she could advise couples who have missing kids.

“She also suggested starting a business doing it.”

DAILY STAR SUNDAY SAYS

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