MURDERER Alan Stead appeared in court charged with three money laundering offences while on bail for killing his wife, it has emerged.

The 42-year-old, pictured, appeared before magistrates in October charged with the alleged offences.

Police sources have revealed to The Sentinel that the charges were in connection with the sale of high value electrical items, which were allegedly stolen, on the online auction site eBay.

Stead, of Meynellfield, Loggerheads, was due to be committed to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court at a future court appearance.

But Stead is now serving at least 25 years in prison after being convicted at Stafford Crown Court on Friday of murdering his wife Anita.

Now Staffordshire Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is considering whether to proceed with the money laundering charges following Stead's conviction.

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "Alan Stead appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Magistrates' Court in October charged with three counts of money laundering.

"The case is still in the legal process, it was adjourned at magistrates and it will go to the crown court. A decision will then be made about what will happen."

Stead murdered 39-year-old mother-of-four Anita in 2002 by locking her in a computer room he built in the garage of their home in Slindon Close, Waterhayes, and starting a fire.

Anita had wanted a divorce, but Stead feared losing his children and home.

He got away with murder for years after police failed to gather enough evidence to prosecute him.

But Anita's father Bert Whitehead, of Hartshill, continued to battle for justice, and in 2006 North Staffordshire coroner Ian Smith demanded police look at the case again.

Twenty police officers and staff were involved in the second investigation over 14 months, and Stead was charged with murder on February 26 last year.

Nick Price, district crown prosecutor for Staffordshire CPS, said: "We can confirm that Alan Stead appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Magistrates Court in relation to Proceeds of Crime offences.

"We are reviewing this case in light of the sentence Stead received on Friday."