The father of one was convicted today at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court of possessing 49 indecent images on his computer.

But Meehan, who has already spent 166 days in prison on remand, was released from custody soon after the hearing ended.

He left court in an unmarked police car, with a police escort.

Earlier, the court heard of an unnamed address at which he could stay and to which police would transport him.

Meanwhile, his former neighbours in Dewsbury Moor said he "would not get very far" if he returned there.

Meehan's computer had been seized from the home he shared with Karen Matthews, in Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, by police searching for nine-year-old Shannon earlier this year.

The 22-year-old was found guilty of 11 charges and cleared of one count of possessing another image on a mobile phone.

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

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

"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 with permission of the child's parents.

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

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

Meehan had claimed he had no knowledge of the pictures and told the court other people had access to his computer and could have downloaded them.

He also claimed while he viewed adult pornography he would not have risked his relationship with Karen Matthews by viewing indecent images of children.

But he admitted viewing adult pornography on the computer, and the court had been told it contained more than 650 references to "Lolita", a common phrase used by those involved in child pornography.

The court was also told it was "extremely unlikely" anyone other than the Meehan was responsible, as all the images were downloaded when he was not at work.

District Judge Jonathan Bennett said it was clear Meehan did have an interest in child pornography and he had lied since his arrest and in his account to the court.

He said the evidence pointed "overwhelmingly" to the defendant.

"I thus find that the defendant has some attraction to child pornography and was both the owner and principle user of this computer.

"Other occasional users predominantly did so when others were in the living room of this open house and the screen was in full view of anyone present.

"Finally, the defendant was not at work when these images, the subject of the charges, were viewed. He had both the motive and opportunity. I am of the view that he has viewed indecent images on the computer."

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."

Speaking outside the court, Julie Bushby, chair of the Moorside Road Residents Association, said the estate was disgusted and disappointed with Meehan's crimes.

"If he comes back up to the Moor, I don't think he'll get very far," she said.

"He won't be able to go back."

Ms Bushby said Meehan deserved today's verdicts and sentence.

"At the end of the day, what he's done was wrong," she said.

"How can I describe it? It's sick, end of."