CRAIG MEEHAN FROM DEWSBURY PICTURED NEAR HIS HOME AFTER SHANNON MATTHEWS CASE REVEALED
| Red Rose Database
Dewsbury Sexual Abuser
In a development that has reignited public interest in the infamous Shannon Matthews case, Craig Meehan, the stepfather of Shannon and a known figure from Dewsbury, was photographed for the first time since the tragic incident unfolded. The images show Meehan walking alongside a woman as they headed towards local shops near his current residence.
Just two miles from where Shannon was ultimately found, Meehan was seen purchasing groceries, including a case of lager, from a nearby store. He also stopped at a newsagent to buy Lotto scratchcards before entering a bookmaker’s shop. The 30-year-old, who previously worked as a fishmonger, has a criminal record that includes a 20-week jail sentence after authorities discovered child sex abuse material on his computer.
The photographs emerged amid anticipation for a new BBC1 drama titled 'The Moorside,' which recounts the harrowing story of Shannon Matthews’ fake kidnapping. The series is named after the Dewsbury housing estate where the real-life events took place in February 2008. The case drew national attention when nine-year-old Shannon failed to return home after a school swimming trip, prompting a massive police operation.
Shannon’s mother, Karen Matthews, then 41, made emotional appeals on television, desperately seeking her daughter’s safe return. A reward of £50,000 was offered for information leading to Shannon’s recovery, and the local community rallied to raise awareness and aid in the search. However, after nearly a month of frantic efforts, the truth unraveled. It was revealed that Karen Matthews had orchestrated her daughter’s kidnapping in a bid to claim the reward money, a scheme that shocked the nation.
Shannon was eventually found drugged and hidden beneath a divan bed at a flat less than a mile from her home, owned by Michael Donovan, who is the uncle of Craig Meehan. At the time, Donovan was dating Karen Matthews. Both Matthews and Donovan, now aged 49, were convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison for kidnapping, false imprisonment, and perverting the course of justice.
Since his release from prison in 2008, Craig Meehan has faced numerous relocations. Initially placed in Keighley, West Yorkshire, he was moved after being attacked. Authorities then found him alternative accommodation in the same town, but he was again unmasked and relocated 20 miles away to a village near Huddersfield. His stay in this affluent community was short-lived, as residents became alarmed upon discovering his presence. Consequently, Meehan was moved back to Dewsbury, where residents expressed their outrage.
Sources indicate that Meehan is set to be relocated once more, as authorities continue to monitor his movements and address community concerns. The case remains a stark reminder of the tragic events surrounding Shannon Matthews and the ongoing issues of safety and justice in the Dewsbury area.
Just two miles from where Shannon was ultimately found, Meehan was seen purchasing groceries, including a case of lager, from a nearby store. He also stopped at a newsagent to buy Lotto scratchcards before entering a bookmaker’s shop. The 30-year-old, who previously worked as a fishmonger, has a criminal record that includes a 20-week jail sentence after authorities discovered child sex abuse material on his computer.
The photographs emerged amid anticipation for a new BBC1 drama titled 'The Moorside,' which recounts the harrowing story of Shannon Matthews’ fake kidnapping. The series is named after the Dewsbury housing estate where the real-life events took place in February 2008. The case drew national attention when nine-year-old Shannon failed to return home after a school swimming trip, prompting a massive police operation.
Shannon’s mother, Karen Matthews, then 41, made emotional appeals on television, desperately seeking her daughter’s safe return. A reward of £50,000 was offered for information leading to Shannon’s recovery, and the local community rallied to raise awareness and aid in the search. However, after nearly a month of frantic efforts, the truth unraveled. It was revealed that Karen Matthews had orchestrated her daughter’s kidnapping in a bid to claim the reward money, a scheme that shocked the nation.
Shannon was eventually found drugged and hidden beneath a divan bed at a flat less than a mile from her home, owned by Michael Donovan, who is the uncle of Craig Meehan. At the time, Donovan was dating Karen Matthews. Both Matthews and Donovan, now aged 49, were convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison for kidnapping, false imprisonment, and perverting the course of justice.
Since his release from prison in 2008, Craig Meehan has faced numerous relocations. Initially placed in Keighley, West Yorkshire, he was moved after being attacked. Authorities then found him alternative accommodation in the same town, but he was again unmasked and relocated 20 miles away to a village near Huddersfield. His stay in this affluent community was short-lived, as residents became alarmed upon discovering his presence. Consequently, Meehan was moved back to Dewsbury, where residents expressed their outrage.
Sources indicate that Meehan is set to be relocated once more, as authorities continue to monitor his movements and address community concerns. The case remains a stark reminder of the tragic events surrounding Shannon Matthews and the ongoing issues of safety and justice in the Dewsbury area.