Who is Shannon Matthews stepfather Craig Meehan and where is he now? – The sun
THE kidnapping of Shannon Matthews was a case that rocked the nation after the act was orchestrated by her own mother.
At the time of the child’s disappearance was her mother Karen Matthews was in a relationship with Craig Meehan, who was not involved in the kidnapping.
Who is Craig Meehan?
Craig Meehan is a convicted pedophile and the ex-boyfriend of Karen Matthews.
The supermarket fishmonger shared a house with Matthews, dubbed “Britain’s Most Hated Mum”, for about five years.
They lived on the Dewsbury Moor estate West Yorkshire – just a mile from where Shannon was found in Batley Carr.
Meehan was never charged in connection with the nine-year-old’s kidnapping.
Read more about Shannon Matthews
Was Craig Meehan involved in the kidnapping of Shannon Matthews?
Meehan was not involved Shannon’s kidnapping.
He was charged and found guilty of possessing child abuse images. after detectives seized computer equipment from the home they shared in Dewsbury at the time.
Meehan, then 22, was jailed for 20 weeks in 2008.
What was Craig Meehan’s relationship with Karen Matthews?
Meehan and Matthews dated for five years.
The pair were together when Matthews plotted her daughter’s kidnapping with his uncle. Michael Donovan.
Meehan met the mother of sevenwho has children by five different men when he was little more than a boy.
The youngster hung out on the street outside her home when Matthews was in her late 20s.
They had been together for about four years when Shannon disappeared and remained together until Matthews’ trial.
During the cruel mother’s trial for child neglect disruption of justiceMeehan continued to profess his love for her.
He told the court they had a “fairly good relationship” but said Matthews suspected he was cheating on her with a fellow supermarket worker.
Matthews initially told a similar story, but soon changed her tune completely.
Matthews gave evidence in court and tried to portray Meehan as a violent rapist and tried to blame him for it Shannon’s kidnapping.
Where did Craig Meehan live?
Meehan has moved five times since he was released from prison in 2008.
He was initially found in Keighley, West Yorkshire, but was moved after being attacked.
Housing authorities found him alternative accommodation in the city, but he was exposed again and moved 20 miles (32 kilometers) to a village near Huddersfield.
But his stay in the prosperous village was short-lived when shocked residents discovered Meehan was in the area.
He then moved back to Dewsbury.
Where is Craig Meehan now?
Meehan was exposed while living just 100 yards from a primary school in Dewsbury.
He lived in a small terraced house on a quiet street popular with families and just meters from a school.
The house was close to the home he shared with Matthews and Shannon at the time of her kidnapping.
Meehan, who is on the sex offenders register, was discovered by angry locals confronted by a father whose children go to school.
Many residents were shocked that the pedophile had been returned to the city, where he is “known”.
Once again he was moved, but this time his whereabouts are unknown.
Timeline of Shannon Matthews’ kidnapping plot
A look at the events that unfolded after the disappearance of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews:
- February 19, 2008 – Shannon Matthews disappears and was last seen outside Westmoor Junior School, Dewsbury.
- February 19, 2008 – Police announce they have launched a massive search involving more than 200 officers as concerns grow over the missing girl.
- March 1, 2008 – Karen Matthews makes an emotional appeal for Shannon’s return on the eve of Mother’s Day.
- March 5, 2008 – Police release a recording of part of the 999 call Matthews reported Shannon missing.
- March 14, 2008 – Shannon is found alive and hidden in the base of a sofa bed in a house at Michael Donovan’s house in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire.
- April 9, 2008 – Karen Matthews is charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice after her daughter’s disappearance – new charges of kidnapping and false imprisonment were later added.
- December 4, 2008 – Matthews and Donovan are found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice and both sentenced to eight years behind bars.