Former television actor John Alford, known for his roles in Grange Hill and London's Burning, has been sentenced today at St Albans Crown Court for a series of sexual assaults against two teenage girls.
Details of the Offences and Court Proceedings
John Alford, who was tried under his real name John Shannon, was found guilty in September of multiple charges relating to an incident in April 2022. The disgraced actor faced two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child, one count of penetrative sexual assault, and one count of sexual assault.
The court heard that in the early hours of Saturday, 9 April 2022, the two victims, aged 14 and 15, were at a sleepover at a friend's house in Hoddesdon. Alford arrived at the property intoxicated. After purchasing and supplying the girls with alcohol, he proceeded to lure one victim into sexual intercourse on two separate occasions. He also sexually assaulted the second teenager twice while she was falling asleep on a sofa.
Alford's Acting Career and Downfall
Before his conviction, Alford was a familiar face on British television. His career began as a child actor, with an early role in the ITV sitcom Not and Then. He rose to prominence playing Robbie Wright in the BBC school drama Grange Hill from 1985 to 1990.
His most notable role followed, as firefighter Billy Ray in ITV's London's Burning, which he played from 1993 until 1998. Later screen credits included the 2001 film Mike Bassett: England Manager, a role as a drug dealer in 2003's Mile High, and appearances in Casualty. His final on-screen role was as a prison guard in the 2017 film The Hatton Garden Job.
Reaction and Sentencing
Following the guilty verdict in September, Alford reacted with disbelief in the courtroom, placing his head in his hands and declaring, "Wrong, I didn't do this!" The actor returned to St Albans Crown Court on 14 January 2026 for sentencing.
The case highlights serious child sexual exploitation and the abuse of trust, with the prosecution detailing how Alford targeted the vulnerable teenagers after providing them with alcohol. The sentencing marks a dramatic fall from grace for the once-popular actor.
