Shannon Matthews' stepfather arrested on child porn charges
POLICE investigating the disappearance of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews have today arrested her stepfather Craig Meehan.
The 22-year-old was held on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.
West Yorkshire Police said the suspect, who they did not name, was detained after officers examined a number of computers during the search for the nine-year-old, who went missing for nearly four weeks.
Meehan lives with Shannon’s mother Karen Matthews at Moorside Road in Dewsbury Moor.
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.
Shannon has not returned home since she was found.
Sources said the indecent images that prompted today’s arrest did not involve any of the Matthews children.
A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “During inquiries by the Shannon Matthews investigation team, the contents of a number of computers have been examined.
“As a result of this work, police have today arrested a 22-year-old man from the Dewsbury Moor area on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.
“He is currently being questioned at a West Yorkshire Police station.”
Fishmonger Meehan has lived with mother-of-seven Karen Matthews, 32, at Shannon’s home for around five years.
