Alan Stead
| AKA | |
| DOB | 1953 () |
| Occupation | Student |
| Kill Total | 1 |
| Kill Place | Newcastle |
| Kill Date | May 2002 |
| M.O. | Arson |
| Victim | Anita Stead-39 |
| Court | Newcastle Crown Court |
| Judge | Mr Justice Astill |
| Prosceution | |
| Defence | |
| Case No: |
27th May 2002, Alan Stead Had a hidden room built in his garage, to hide his computer game counterfeiting operation. On this fateful day he locked his wife, mother of four, Anita Stead in the room and then set fire to the house.
A post mortum showed Anita died of smoke inhalation.
Initially police ruled her death at their home in Slindon Close, Waterhayes, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was a ‘domestic accident’. But, six years of evidence gathering by Anita's father eventually saw Stead stand trial.
10th February 2009, Alan Stead was charged with murder and remanded to HMP Birmingham.
Friday 13th February 2009, Prosecutors alleged Stead wanted to kill his wife because she had told him she wanted a divorce.
13th February 2009, Stead, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25-years. Sentencing him, Mr Justice Astill said, Stead planned his wife's murder "step-by-step", luring her into the computer room and locking her in before starting the fire.
"You piled lie upon lie and and said you had not been able to rescue her," he said.
"You lived that lie for years and it was only those who suspected you from the beginning that enabled justice to be done. "Your cruelty has shown no bounds."
13th February 2009, Stead, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25-years. Sentencing him, Mr Justice Astill said, Stead planned his wife's murder "step-by-step", luring her into the computer room and locking her in before starting the fire.
"You piled lie upon lie and and said you had not been able to rescue her," he said.
"You lived that lie for years and it was only those who suspected you from the beginning that enabled justice to be done. "Your cruelty has shown no bounds."
Thursday 21st January 2016, Stead was found dead in his cell at HMP Dovegate, near Uttoxeter in Staffordshire. It was reported that he died of natural causes.