Because of the time served on remand, Meehan is a free man.

He is currently completing paperwork at the Leeds Magistrates' Court.

Craig Meehan, 22, was found guilty at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court of 11 counts of possessing 49 indecent images of children on a computer.

He was cleared on one count of possessing an image on a mobile phone.
Meehan's computer was seized from the home he shared with Karen Matthews, 32, on Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire, by police searching for nine-year-old Shannon earlier this year.

District Judge Jonathan Bennett told Meehan they were "serious matters".

"The damage that has been caused to the children in these photographs is unimaginable.

"That is why Parliament regards these matters as so serious and why there is widespread social abhorrence of such offences.

"The most vulnerable in our society have to be protected."

Some of the photographs were so indecent they were categorised towards the highest end of the scale.

Meehan was made subject to a seven-year sexual offences prevention order which bans him from having photographs of children under 16 unless it is with permission of the child's parents.

He is also prohibited from downloading or viewing any image of children, except for family photos.

Access to websites relating to children was also barred under the order.

The judge said the number of images involved was at "the lower end of the scale" and there was nothing to suggest they were shown to anyone else.

However, he said there were "additional matters, personal to you, of which I take account."

He added: "As a result of the publicity surrounding this case you have remained in custody since you were charged by the police.

"This has been your first experience of custody. In other circumstances someone in your position, with no previous convictions, would have been on bail throughout the proceedings. You have been remanded in custody on the unusual ground of it being for your own protection.

"I was certainly prepared to bail you to an address out of West Yorkshire, which could have been withheld from the public domain during the currency of the proceedings. This was for your own safety."

The judge said Meehan had become "almost a household figure" as a result of the publicity.

He added: "The conviction for these offences will be further publicised. Such cases often attract publicity, but your case - as is demonstrated by the enormous media attention - will be far more than most.

"Undoubtedly as a result of the events of this year your life has changed forever. Life cannot go back to what it was before February 19.

"Over the coming months you are going to face some difficult circumstances."

Meehan, who was sporting short brown hair, glasses and a black Manchester United shirt with Ronaldo written on the back, sat in the dock throughout today's proceedings with one security guard.

He showed no emotion while listening to the guilty verdicts or his sentence.

Friends and family watched the hearing from the public gallery.
Meehan's sister, Amanda Hyett, sobbed as Judge Bennett delivered his guilty verdict and was comforted by Moorside Road resident Petra Jameson.

Speaking outside the court after her brother was sentenced, Mrs Hyett, 25, said: "He's only my brother, he's my blood, I didn't choose him to do that."