GOD knows what dark and truly disturbing place Christopher Grady’s mind was in when he drove his car into the icy waters of the river Avon with his two terrified, defenceless children inside.

Let’s not dwell on it. Justice – in the legal sense – has been done and hopefully Ryan and his mother Kim can get on with rebuilding their lives once sentence is passed next week.

Our special coverage today brings details of the court case and the reaction to the verdict, but on two pages we concentrate not on Grady’s actions but those of two others – Inspector Sean Kent and Sergeant Phil Stayte.

While Grady failed in his father’s duty to protect his children, these two policemen risked their lives to save a stranger’s. Note their instinct and determination when they arrived at the scene and saw Ryan’s head slipping under the water.

‘I was not prepared to watch a little boy die in front of me.’ So they jumped in. And because of them Ryan is alive today.

There is no triumphalism, for this is a bitterly sad story. Gabby could not be saved, and they are haunted by it.

Contrast today the police bravery, Ryan’s fortitude and Kim’s strength, against the smallness and miserableness that was and is Christopher Grady.

• Click here for our all of our coverage of this tragic case.