John Alford’s laywer said the star is likely to be targeted in prison for ‘who he is’ – but according to a prison expert, celebrity status doesn’t get you anywhere when behind bars and he will be at the bottom of the hierarchy due to the nature of his crimes
Nineties star John Alford’s fall from grace saw him put behind bars for eight and a half years after a jury found him guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of penetrative sexual activity of a child, assault by penetration and sexual assault.
Once a highly respected and telly heartthrob, Alford’s life behind bars looks very different from the fame and lifestyle he once held. He was an in-demand actor appearing in famous shows including Grange Hill and London’s Burning. But is now a convicted paedophile, and experts say he is going to be “targeted” in prison for his crime – and his celebrity status won’t help him.
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In mitigation, Alford’s barrister said his client has been diagnosed with ADHD and other mental health issues. He said Alford now recognises he has a problem with alcohol, which “he has not really addressed throughout his life”. The court heard Alford is a dad to four children, aged between five and 19. He said Alford is likely to be targeted in prison because of “who he is”.
But Nusrit Mehtab, former Met superintendent and senior lecturer in policing and criminal justice said this isn’t the case. She told Daily Mirror that the prison won’t recognise his celebrity or his past success, instead, they’ll just recognise his crime, which in prison hierarchy – is right at the bottom.
“He’s a sexual predator, and people will see him that way. He’s got a custodial sentence. Obviously, we know what that is. And it’s one of the most stigmatised categories within the prison service, don’t forget,” she explained. Because of this, there will be a risk assessment on him, and he will be placed in the vulnerable prisoners wing where he will be segregated from the main prison population.
Nusrit further explained: “In prison, success carries very little weight. And let’s not forget, respect is shaped by reputation, behaviour, and the offence type. There’s a hierarchy within prison. Obviously, if you’re an OG gangster who knows how the prison system works, then they’ll respect you more than if you’re a sex offender, and especially if you’ve committed crimes against children.”
Due to his fame, it will also be harder for Alford to hide, as people will recognise him – whether it’s from the TV, or his face in the news for his crime. The expert said news can travel fast in prisons, and Alford’s prison life will be “limited”.
“When you get convicted of a sexual offence against children, there’s a hierarchy in prison, and he is one of the lowest in the hierarchy. So obviously it will have its psychological cost, it will lead to isolation, there’ll be limited social interaction, and restricted access into prison activities. Because they can’t be with the normal prison population.
“Not for the beginning because he’ll be segregated. So when we think about his fame, I think rather than shielding him as an individual, it can increase scrutiny. But people will know he’s there, and there will always be someone, whether it’s a prison guard, whether it’s the general public, somebody will recognise him. And obviously, let’s face it, they’re going to read about him.
“And also other people coming into prisons, because you’ve got visitors as well who will say, ‘Oh, do you know that man? He’s come into your prison’. He will be a target, he will get some form of attention. Also, psychologically for him, he’ll struggle with that sudden and complete loss of status.”
Nusrit said “everything is going to impact him” and more so than someone who doesn’t have a celebrity status. She said his life behind bars will be “regimented” and “highly repetitive”.
“Don’t forget, prison is overcrowded anyway, and prisoners do spend a lot of time in their cells. But for him being in the vulnerable wing, being kind of isolated from the general prison population, for now, and obviously I don’t know, depending on how he is, his behaviour etc, things may change, but he’s still a sex offender. But his life in prison will be different to somebody else who has committed a different offence.
Alford sexually assaulted girls aged 14 and 15 at a friend’s home on April 9, 2022. He was convicted on six counts including sexual assault, penetrative sexual activity with a child and penetrative sexual assault. When the verdicts were read out, he placed his head in his hand and said: “Wrong, I didn’t do this!”
Prosecuting barrister Julie Whitby said both of the girls were drunk when the incidents happened. All of the offences took place at the home of a third girl whose father was friends with Alford.
