Meehan trial date set

Updated 12.14 Wed Aug 27 2008
Keywords: Craig Meehan, Shannon Matthews

The former partner of Shannon Matthews' mother will go on trial for child pornography charges on September 8.

Craig Meehan is accused of possessing 140 indecent images of children which were allegedly found on a computer at the home he shared with Karen Matthews.

It is alleged Meehan possessed indecent images of children aged between four and 16

The supermarket fishmonger denies the charges and the trial is expected to last five days.

It is alleged Meehan, 22, 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.

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

Shannon went missing on February 19 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.

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 32-year-old Matthews, who is charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice.

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