Stepfather on child porn charges

Craig Meehan arriving at the court on Thursday morning

The stepfather of former missing schoolgirl Shannon Matthews has been charged with 10 counts of possessing indecent images of children.

Craig Meehan, 22, of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was arrested at the family home on Wednesday and will appear before magistrates on Thursday.

Shannon, nine, was missing for 24 days after failing to return from school.

Michael Donovan, 39, of Lidgate Gardens, Dewsbury, has been charged with her kidnap.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "A 22-year-old man has been charged with 10 specimen offences of possession of indecent images of children.

"In relation to the welfare of the family's children, it is being dealt with by social services. Police policy is we are not commenting on the welfare of the children."

Mr Meehan has lived with Shannon's mother, Karen Matthews, 32, for five years.

His uncle, Michael Donovan, who lives at the Batley Carr flat, has been charged with Shannon's kidnap.

Shannon was found hidden in the base of a bed in a flat a mile from her home on 14 March, 24 days after she went missing.