Stepfather remanded over images

Mother's first meeting with Shannon

The stepfather of Shannon Matthews, who was missing for three weeks, has been remanded in custody over charges of possessing indecent images of children.

Craig Meehan, 22, of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was arrested at the family home on Wednesday and appeared before the town's magistrates on Thursday.

He was accused of 11 specimen charges of possessing indecent images graded at levels one to four of seriousness.

Prosecutors alleged there were 140 indecent images on two computers.

Police said the most serious grade of indecent images is level five.

No application for bail was made at the hearing.

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.

Friends of the Matthews family packed the courtroom to listen to the allegations against Mr Meehan.

The bespectacled stepfather wore a black Manchester United shirt with the name Ronaldo on the back and spoke only to confirm his name, address and age.

He stood to listen as magistrate Wayne Perriman remanded him in custody.

After her partner's arrest, Shannon's mother, Karen Matthews, was allowed a meeting with her daughter, although the schoolgirl remains in the care of Kirklees Social Services.