Bail refused in Shannon case

The partner of Shannon Matthews' mother was refused bail by magistrates yesterday on charges of possessing child pornography.

Craig Meehan, 22, appeared before magistrates in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, accused of possessing 140 indecent images of children which were allegedly found on two computers at his home address.

The case against Meehan was adjourned and he was remanded in custody until April 18 when he will next appear before magistrates in the town.

An application for bail by Meehan's solicitor David Orbaum was refused by the bench, chaired by David Haywood.

Meehan was impassive throughout the two-hour hearing in a packed court room.

Local residents joined police officers and media in the public gallery.

Bespectacled Meehan, who was brought into court handcuffed to a guard, was flanked by two women dock officers and a male.

He wore a black Manchester United away shirt under a Fila coat.

The 22-year-old supermarket fishmonger is accused of 11 specimen offences of possession of indecent images of children.

It is alleged Meehan, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury, 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.

They were allegedly found on two computers at the family home in Dewsbury where he has lived with Karen Matthews for around five years.