Shannon mother's ex faces court

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The former partner of Shannon Matthews' mother has appeared in court on child pornography charges.

Craig Meehan appeared before Dewsbury magistrates accused of possessing 140 indecent images of children.

The images were allegedly found on a computer at the home he shared with Shannon's mother Karen Matthews.

No application for bail was made and the 22-year-old was remanded in custody. He denies all the charges and a trial is listed for 8 September.

Mr Meehan, a supermarket fishmonger, is charged with 11 specimen offences of possession of indecent images of children.

Kidnap charge

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 is the most serious.

Mr Meehan is also charged with possessing an indecent image of a young girl on a mobile phone.

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

Mr 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 11 November alongside Mrs Matthews, who is charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice.