THE ex-partner of Shannon Matthews’s mother has denied possession of child pornography.
Craig Meehan, 22, of Dewsbury Moor, entered a formal not guilty plea to possessing 140 indecent images of children on a computer, when he appeared before Dewsbury magistrates yesterday.
Meehan, who lived for four years with Karen Matthews, elected to face trial in front of magistrates rather than by a jury at crown court.
Bespectacled Meehan was led into court in handcuffs and sat flanked by two security guards.
Wearing a black Manchester United top, grey tracksuit bottoms and a navy and white Fila jacket, he looked solemn throughout the hearing.
Friends and family watched the proceedings from the public gallery.
Meehan’s mother Alice sobbed as the details of the charges were read out. She was comforted by her daughter, Amanda Hyett.
Meehan was arrested earlier this month by officers investigating Shannon’s disappearance. He is accused of 11 specimen offences of possession of indecent images of children.
It is alleged that the supermarket fishmonger 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.
An application for bail was refused and Meehan was remanded in custody. He will appear before the same court on May 14.
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.
