The partner of Shannon Matthews’ mother appeared in court today to face charges of possessing child pornography.
A general view showing the now boarded up former home of Shannon Matthews in Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire.
Supermarket fishmonger Craig Meehan (22) is accused of 11 offences of possession of indecent images of children.
It is alleged Mr Meehan, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, possessed 140 indecent images of children graded at levels one to four - on a scale where one is the least serious and five is the most serious.
They were allegedly found on two computers at the family home in Dewsbury where he has lived with Karen Matthews for around five years.
Mr Meehan appeared in the dock in front of a packed courtroom wearing a Manchester United shirt under a casual waterproof coat.
He was flanked by three security officers.
The bench of three magistrates heard legal arguments before adjourning the case until 2.15pm.
Mr Meehan was arrested on April 2nd by officers investigating the disappearance of Shannon.
Earlier today he was driven into the back of Dewsbury Magistrates’ Court in a white prison van.
Shannon went missing on February 19th and was discovered hidden in the base of a bed in a flat in Batley Carr, just one mile from her home in Dewsbury after a 24-day search by police.
Mr Meehan’s uncle, Michael Donovan (39) of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, has been charged with Shannon’s kidnap and imprisonment.
His trial has been provisionally set for November 11th at Leeds Crown Court.
Karen Matthews (32) appeared in court on Wednesday charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice.
She was remanded in custody and will next appear at Leeds Crown Court on April 16th.
Yesterday, Meehan’s mother Alice (49) and her daughters Amanda Hyett (25) and Caroline Meehan (29) were also arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
All three were later released on bail pending further inquiries.
PA