Former television actor John Alford has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for a series of sexual offences against two teenage girls at a friend's sleepover. The 54-year-old, once known for roles in Grange Hill and London's Burning, was found guilty of multiple charges following a trial at St Albans Crown Court.
The Night of the Assault
The attacks occurred in the early hours of 9 April 2022 during an impromptu sleepover at a friend's house in Islington. The court heard that Alford, who was using his real name John Shannon, was the only adult awake after a night out. Knowing the girls were aged 14 and 15, he left the property at 4:30am to buy alcohol, cigarettes, and food from a nearby petrol station, spending around £250.
Upon returning, he plied the teenagers with Ciroc vodka. He then sexually assaulted the 14-year-old in the garden and a downstairs toilet, ignoring her repeated pleas to stop. He also inappropriately touched the 15-year-old as she lay half-asleep on a sofa.
Victim Impact and Court Proceedings
In harrowing victim impact statements, the girls detailed the profound trauma caused by Alford's actions. The 14-year-old, a virgin prior to the attack, required a sexual health exam, the morning-after pill, and preventative injections for HIV. She described feeling intense shame and a loss of security, affecting her relationships and schooling.
The 15-year-old victim said the assault "destroyed" her mental wellbeing, leading to severe self-harm and a suicide attempt at age 16. She continues to suffer flashbacks, anxiety around men, and a debilitating fear of being alone.
Despite the evidence, Alford showed no emotion or remorse during his sentencing on Wednesday, 15 January 2026. Recorder Caroline Overton noted his focus remained on the impact on himself and his family, not his victims.
Sentencing and Lifetime Consequences
John Alford was found guilty on 5 September of four counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of sexual assault and assault by penetration. He was sentenced to eight and a half years in custody and must serve at least two-thirds before release on licence.
He will be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign the sex offenders' register for life. A restraining order also bans him from contacting either victim directly or indirectly.
In mitigation, his defence cited diagnoses of ADHD and other mental health issues, alongside a long-standing problem with alcohol. The judge, however, stated only an immediate custodial sentence was justified for crimes committed in a setting the girls should have felt safe.
