Craig Meehan In Suicide Attempt

The former partner of Shannon Matthews' mother has tried to commit suicide following his conviction for possessing child pornography.

Craig Meegan, 22, has been living at a secret location since he was released from custody.

He was sentenced to 20 weeks in jail over images found on his computer, but was freed immediately because of the time he had spent in prison before his trial.

His mother Alice confirmed he had recently attempted to kill himself.

She also told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "He was very low when I spoke to him on Saturday, he was thinking about doing something stupid.

"Everything is going around in his head."

Meehan was arrested following the huge search for Karen Matthews' daughter earlier this year.

Police found child abuse images on his home computer after Shannon vanished from her home in Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire, in February.

Ms Meehan said that her son told her he still loved Matthews, 33.

She added that he had struggled to get over the death of his father 10 months ago.

Shannon was found after a huge police investigation 24 days after she went missing.

Her mother is due to go on trial in November alongside Meehan's uncle Michael Donovan.

Both deny charges of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.

Sky News