The stepfather of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews has been arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.

Stepdad Craig Meehan was detained after West Yorkshire Police examined a number of computers during the search for the nine-year-old, who went missing for nearly four weeks.

The 22-year-old fishmonger is currently being questioned by detectives.

Sky News correspondent Gerard Tubb said: "The photographs are not of Shannon and the allegations that Craig Meehan downloaded the photographs are not connected to the disappearance of Shannon."

Meehan lives with Shannon's mother Karen Matthews at Moorside Road in Dewsbury Moor.

But the girl has not returned home since she was found.

Tubb added: "(Meehan's arrest) has the potential to have considerable repercussions - not least of which because social services are looking at what happens, not only to Shannon and any eventual return to the family home, but also to the other children in the household.

Shannon was missing for weeks"She is in the care of social services ... the likelihood of Shannon going home any time soon is slim to say the least."

Shannon disappeared on her way home from a school swimming trip on February 19.

She was found 24 days later at the house of Meehan's uncle in Batley Carr, a mile from her home.

Michael Donovan, 39, of Lidgate Gardens, Dewsbury, was later charged with Shannon's kidnapping and imprisonment.

His trial has been provisionally set for November 11 at Leeds Crown Court.

Hundreds of officers and 60 detectives were involved in the three-week search for Shannon.

All VERY dodgy... always thought he looked bad news... all the kids will end up in care no doubt.

Poor children. They dont deserve parents like this.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The plot thickens!!! Isn't Amanda Hyett the one who was crying on the telly??? Mmmmmmm dodgy bloody lot!!

Police investigating the alleged abduction of Shannon Matthews have arrested her stepfather's mother and sister.

Amanda Hyett, 25, has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and Alice Meehan, 49, has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

Hyett is the sister and Meehan the mother of Shannon Matthews's stepfather, Craig Meehan, who was arrested at his home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, on April 2.


Sky's North of England correspondent Mike McCarthy said: "We have been told by West Yorkshire police that these two women are now being questioned at police stations.

"The details have not been divulged as to where they are, but we know it is in connection with the Shannon Matthews inquiry."

Nine-year-old Shannon was missing for 24 days before she was finally found in a property around one mile away from her home.

The flat was the home of Michael Donovan, 39, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, who was arrested on March 14 and later charged with Shannon's kidnap and imprisonment.

His trial has been provisionally set for November 11 at Leeds Crown Court.

Donovan, formerly known as Paul Drake, is the uncle of Craig Meehan.

Meehan, 22, yesterday appeared at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court charged with 11 counts of possessing indecent images of children.

He was remanded in custody to appear again before the same court on April 11.

Shannon is still under Police care - that has always struck me as being very odd.

Oh definately. Voluntary too!!!!

Sad to think the family were involved. Makes you wonder what on earth has gone off. Whether it was for reasons we don't want to think about, or if it was to con cash out of people.

What is going on in all this? Now the mother has been arrested? Jeepers! :cross:

Looks like Mels theory might be right. Out to gain money like the McCanns.

I never thought she looked upset from day 1!

If that is the case, what evil evil people they are to use a child like that!!! And to think when I heard she had gone missing, I was mortified and felt so sorry for them! :cross:

I hope little Shannon and the other children are all ok in this sad state of affairs.

Now the mother has been arrested and charged!!!!! :cross:

The mother of Shannon Matthews has been charged by police in connection with the alleged abduction of her daughter.

Karen Matthews, 32, will appear before magistrates charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice.

Her nine-year-old daughter failed to return home after a primary school swimming lesson and was discovered in the base of a bed at an address just one mile from her house after a 24-day police search.

"The Crown Prosecution Service has continued to work with the police in connection with this case since Shannon Matthews was found on Friday March 14," said Peter Mann, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's West and North Yorkshire complex casework unit.

"Having carefully considered the file supplied by West Yorkshire Police, we have decided that there is sufficient evidence and have authorised that Karen Matthews should be charged with perverting the course of justice and child neglect.

"She will appear before Dewsbury Magistrates' Court tomorrow morning.

"We will continue to keep this case under review."

Reporting from West Yorkshire, Sky's North of England correspondent Gerard Tubb said: "It is interesting is that Mr Mann of the CPS said the case was being kept under review.

"That is CPS speak for 'there may be further charges against other people'.

"They are looking all the time at what is happening and we know that police are actively investigating several lines of enquiry."

Five people have been arrested in connection with Shannon's disappearance so far, with three of them now facing serious charges.

OMG!!! :shock: :cross:

The ex-partner of Shannon Matthews' mother has been arrested in connection with the alleged abduction of the nine-year-old, police have confirmed.

Craig Meehan, 22, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, was arrested yesterday on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

He was later bailed pending further inquiries, West Yorkshire Police said.

A force spokesman said Meehan had been arrested, while his former partner Karen Matthews and his uncle Michael Donovan were formally interviewed.

All were arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in relation to Shannon's disappearance.

This is the first time Meehan has been arrested in connection with Shannon's disappearance.

It is also the first time Donovan has been questioned on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

Today fishmonger Meehan appeared at Dewsbury Magistrates Court to enter a formal not guilty plea to possessing 140 indecent images of children.

The images were allegedly found on two computers at his home address in Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor.


He elected to face trial in front of magistrates rather than by a jury at crown court.

Meehan is accused of 11 specimen offences of possession of indecent images of children.

It is alleged he possessed indecent images of children aged between four and 16, graded at levels one to four - on a scale where one is the least serious and five the most.

They were allegedly found at the family home where he lived with Karen Matthews, 32, for around five years.

Shannon went missing on February 19 and was discovered hidden in the base of a bed in a flat just one mile from her home after a 24-day search by police.

Meehan's uncle, Michael Donovan, 39, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, has been charged with Shannon's kidnap and imprisonment.

He will go on trial at Leeds Crown Court on November 11 alongside Karen Matthews, who is charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice.

Other members of Meehan's family have also been arrested by officers investigating Shannon's disappearance and released on bail pending further inquiries.

This case is like a never ending maze, so many twists and turns - no one could have predicted this :angry: