ALAN STEAD SENTENCED FOR MURDER IN STAFFORDSHIRE

In 2009, Alan Stead, a father of five from Meynell Fields, Loggerheads in Staffordshire, was convicted of his wife Anita's murder following a tragic incident in May 2002. The Stafford Crown Court heard that Stead intentionally trapped his wife inside a room he had built in their garage and then set their house on fire. The court was told that Mrs. Stead perished in a room used by Stead to conceal a computer game counterfeiting operation. Although Stead denied causing his wife's death, he was found guilty and received a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years. Prosecutors indicated that his motive was likely related to Anita's wish for a divorce. During the trial, Mrs. Stead's father, Bert Whitehead, who was 82 at the time, voiced his discontent with the police investigation, revealing that he had undertaken his own inquiries and handed over six files to detectives. Reflecting outside the court, he said, "I am pleased with all the work I put in but it's so sad. I did not want this." The court was informed that Stead claimed he only discovered the fire after being awakened by his two-year-old daughter, describing the event as a "tragic accident." CCTV footage showed Stead leaving a neighbor's house 30 minutes after the fire was started. He also admitted to lying to police about his rescue efforts, acknowledging he exaggerated his involvement in attempting to save his wife. The judge, Mr. Justice Astill, sentenced Stead, stating that he had carefully planned the murder by luring his wife into the computer room, locking her inside, and then igniting the house. The judge remarked, "You piled lie upon lie and said you had not been able to rescue her," adding that Stead maintained a falsehood for years, and that justice was only achieved due to suspicions raised by others involved.