Shannon police arrest Craig Meehan's sister and her husband on suspicion of fraud

The sister of Shannon Matthew's stepfather, Craig Meehan, and her husband have been arrested on suspicion of fraud.

Police working with the Department of Work and Pensions arrested the couple, who led the search for the missing schoolgirl, this morning.

Coach driver Mr Hyett, 36, and his 25-year-old wife live in the adjoining semi-detached house to Karen Matthews, Shannon's mother, in Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire.

Mrs Hyett is her stepfather, Craig Meehan's sister, and has already been arrested twice on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in connection with Shannon's "abduction".

It is understood the investigation into the alleged fraud began before the nine-year-old disappeared on February 19.

A police spokeswoman said: "West Yorkshire Police officers assisting the Department of Work and Pensions have this morning arrested two people from the Dewsbury Moor area on suspicion of committing fraud offences.

"The arrests are not related to an alleged abduction of a nine-year-old girl in February.

"We regularly work with the Department of Work and Pensions to investigate allegations of benefit fraud."

A DWP spokeswoman said they could not comment on individual cases.

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Shannon was discovered on March 14, hidden in the base of a bed in a flat in Batley Carr, just one mile from her home in Dewsbury, after a 24-day search by police.

The dramatic hunt, which involved more than 300 police officers, cost an extra £1 million in overtime and additional resources.

Michael Donovan, 39, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, was arrested and charged with Shannon's kidnap and imprisonment.

Donovan, formerly known as Paul Drake, is the uncle of Craig Meehan - the ex-partner of Shannon's mother, Karen Matthews.

Donovan's trial has been provisionally set for November 11 at Leeds Crown Court.

Matthews, 32, was later charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice.

She appeared at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court last week and was remanded in custody to appear at Leeds Crown Court on April 16.

Last week, Mrs Hyett was arrested along with her mother Alice Meehan, 49, and sister Caroline Meehan, 29, on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in connection with Shannon's disappearance.

All three were later released on bail pending further inquiries.

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Craig Meehan, 22, was arrested on April 2 by officers investigating the disappearance of Shannon.

The supermarket fishmonger was charged with 11 specimen offences of possession of indecent images of children and was remanded in custody at a hearing at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court last week.

He will next appear before magistrates in the town on April 18.