Father turned detective to prove son-in-law killed his daughter in fire (VIDEO)
Retired college lecturer Bert Whitehead started his own investigation and even collected witness statements in his six-year battle to bring his daughter's killer to justice.
Speaking after yesterday's verdict, Mr Whitehead, from Hartshill, said: "I have done everything I can to seek the truth and justice against the cruelty and horror my daughter must have experienced in a blacked-out small room with a raging fire on the other side of the door, with no way out.
"Seeking the truth really is stranger than fiction and I have written volumes of it to get to this situation, and at a great cost emotionally, health-wise and financially.
"It wasn't always easy breaking through bureaucratic walls and I've had to piece together a lot of information, but all along I have been gunning for justice for Anita."
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Mr Whitehead's commitment to find the truth was on show yesterday as he continued to take down notes in the courtroom even as the jury returned its guilty verdict.
But Mr Whitehead said he could take no satisfaction from the sentence, despite Stead getting at least 25 years behind bars for the murder at Slindon Close, Waterhayes.
Mr Whitehead added: "I am pleased with the verdict but the whole thing is just so sad. I didn't want any of this.
"There can be no satisfaction when you think of the four children who are scarred for life and what is going to happen to them now.
"Over these last six years I have lost my four grandchildren. They have walked past me inside the court building and not even said hello. They don't even know who I am or recognise me.
"I don't know how that is ever going to change. The damage done won't be reversed in my lifetime.
"Little by little, Alan demolished all of Anita's standards. She loved her children so much but that relationship with her children was cut off at just 39.
"My family has lost forever a beautiful daughter, joyful, well educated, well informed and a wonderful mother. For Anita's mother at 84, the heartbreak will remain. She has in effect lost a loving daughter and four grandchildren in one day."
The jury took less than a day to find lorry driver Stead, of Meynell Fields, Loggerheads, guilty of murder at Stafford Crown Court yesterday.
Passing sentence, Judge Sir Michael Astill told Stead there was no doubt the 42-year-old had deliberately set out to murder his wife.
He said: "You killed not only your wife, but a mother to four children, to whom she was utterly devoted. Anita was a loving wife who put her children first but you put yourself before anyone or anything.
"You planned her murder step by step. You lured her to the computer room and delayed the fire and rescue service from finding her so the fire could kill her first.
"You then acted out the part of the grieving, hysterical husband and pulled out lie upon lie.
"You lived the lie for years but had to face reality when there was sufficient evidence that this fire had been started deliberately.
"Your last despicable act was to say your wife had started the fire herself, not caring if her two-year-old daughter in the house lived or died.
"Your cruelty knows no bounds. You poisoned the minds of your children against your wife's side of the family.
"I am in no doubt that you carried out detailed planning of this dreadful act."
Following the sentence, Nick Price, from Staffordshire Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "This was a cold-blooded, pre-meditated murder and we are pleased this man has been brought to justice.
"Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of Anita Stead."
Detectives investigating the fire at the time of the blaze in 2002 prepared a file for the CPS, which found there was insufficient evidence. Stead was later charged in February last year after a second police inquiry.
Detective Inspector Andy Wall said: "Alan Stead came up with many versions of what supposedly happened. The plain and awful fact is that he killed his wife.
"Anita's family and everyone close to her have had a long wait for justice, and we very much hope the outcome brings with it some long-awaited peace."
Pictures from the scene of the fire
The remains of the bookcase which was used as a secret door
The burnt-out computer room where Anita Stead was found
The playroom where the fire started
Use the links on the side of this page to read more about the case at www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/stead
