Disgraced Grange Hill and London’s Buring star John Alford has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison after being found guilty of sexual offences against two teenagers. In court, disturbing details about the attacks came to light
What was supposed to be a normal sleepover with friends turned into every parent’s worst nightmare when two teenagers were sexually assaulted by a TV star who was meant to keep them safe.
Once the hearthrob of 80s TV drama London’s Burning, it’s only now that the true horror of John Alford’s perverted crimes have come to light. The disgraced actor has this week been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison after being found guilty of child sex offences, with his victims bravely sharing with the world the torment they have endured since that fateful night.
The 54-year-old, who was tried under his real name of John Shannon, was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with a child, as well as two counts relating to a second female of sexual assault and assault by penetration. Alford, of Hartham Road, Islington, was found guilty at St Albans Crown Court on September 5 of sexually assaulting girls aged 14 and 15 at a friend’s home on April 9, 2022. At his sentencing on Wednesday, he showed no emotion or remorse.
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The court heard that Alford’s attacks happened while the girls were enjoying a sleepover at a friend’s house during the Easter holidays. The impromptu party was held at the home of a third girl – whose father was friends with Alford – following a night out at the pub. None of the teens previously knew the Grange Hill star.
The night eventually wound down and everyone in the house went to bed. Except for Alford, who ended up being the only adult left awake with the girls, the court heard. The sex offender then used this position of power as an opportunity to ply his victims with alcohol, heading to a nearby petrol station at 4:30am and buying £250 worth of food, cigarettes and booze – including rum, beer and flavoured vodka.
The court heard that because of the nature of the conversations he had with them that night, he knew how old the girls were. When he returned to his friend’s home, Alford was sipping on a bottle of beer while both girls drank from the bottle of Ciroc vodka he’d offered them. The dad-of-four went on to have sex with the 14-year-old girl in the garden of the property and later in a downstairs toilet. He also inappropriately touched the 15-year-old girl as she lay half-asleep on the living room sofa.
In a video of her police interview played to the court, the 14-year-old said she had never had sex before the night and stated she had been assaulted. She said: “I told him to stop because I didn’t want to have sex with an old man”. The court heard Alford asked her ‘do you want this babe?’ to which she replied “no”. She told police she asked him to stop “three or four times”.
Meanwhile, the 15-year-old girl assaulted by Alford told the court: “We were all just like dozing off. That was when John started to touch me.” The youngster said she felt “absolutely sick” after the attack and immediately showered after being dropped off at the house of the other girl Alford attacked.
She described how they both went into a bathroom together and “spoke about everything that happened”, before she talked about the incidents again while visiting a different friend’s home two days later. Recalling the moment, she said: “I had a mental breakdown to my best mate’s mum in the garden and she called my mum.”
Recorder Caroline Overton told the court that the girls were in what should have been “a safe environment” while enjoying themselves at the sleepover, including recording TikTok videos. She told Alford: “You were the one remaining adult. You were a trusted family friend and you were fully aware the girls were 14 and 15 years of age.”
During the trial, jurors heard that, after being arrested, the shamed TV star claimed he had “never touched” either of the girls and told police officers: “This stinks. This is a setup.” But a jury disagreed and convicted Alford of all the charges after a week-long trial and more than 13 hours of deliberations.
Once full of zest for life, the two girls now say they are a shadow of their former selves after their trust was cruelly robbed at the hands of a man who was supposed to protect them. The 14-year-old victim told police Alford was older than her dad. In her victim impact statement, she said: “I’m the victim of penetrative sexual assault. Being sexually assaulted has affected my family in every way.”
The girl explained that after the assault, she had to undergo a sexual health exam, but it could not be completed due to it causing her so much pain. She was also given the morning after pill and had to undergo injections for HIV and other diseases, which caused her bruising. She said: “I was scared people were going to notice and wonder why I had them. I had so much shame about the incident. I didn’t want to tell anyone.”
She said she did eventually tell her brother, who told her parents, including her dad who attempted to comfort her. The girl explained: “My dad hugged me, but I didn’t feel comfortable with it because he was a man. It has affected me severely with school. I didn’t care about my GCSEs as this was the only thing that mattered. I wasn’t bothered about my personal hygiene or appearance. I was just existing. I’ve become protective of my friends and any girl I see. I’m always on the look out for a man doing something wrong. What happened to me will be with me forever, but I won’t let it change me.”
The youngest victim said she doesn’t like drinking as it reminds her of that night. She added: “I remember what John smelled like. I was getting flashbacks. I’ve been getting dreams. I’m convinced he’s going to come through my door. I also find it hard being intimate with my boyfriend because of this. The assault by John has completely changed my perspective on life. It has made me look very differently at the world and I now have worries for my life and my future children. I will not let this assault define me, but it has been constantly in my mind.”
For Alford’s other victim, who was 15 at the time of the assault, the pain of that night “destroyed” her. Tragically, she carried out severe self-harm for years after the attack and even attempted to take her own life at the age of 16. She now has scars on her body as a result of the self-harm. In a heartbreaking victim impact statement read out in court, she said: “This man destroyed my mental wellbeing. When I was 16 I tried to take my own life with sleeping tablets. I was in so much physical and emotional pain I cut myself deeply. I used my mum’s lighter to burn the inside of my thighs as well. I felt so suicidal and depressed, words cannot describe how I felt.”
The girl said she often suffers flashbacks and nightmares and she admitted: “Every day I wake up thinking I could have done something to help my friend.” She also said she blames herself. “I still face challenges everyday because of what he did,” she said. “I cannot get on public transport, I can’t do anything by myself.” Tormented by the attack, she also told how if she wakes up in the night, she is too scared to go to the toilet on her own. She said: “I struggle with men. I don’t want to think of every man as evil, but I do. I will never forget his face, his scent, his voice or him.”
Despite the unimaginable suffering he caused his victims, Alford showed no remorse in court. He simply tapped his heart while looking at family members before being led down to the cells. Recorder Overton said he had remained focused on the impact the offences on him and his family rather than his victims. She said he had shown “a lack of acknowledgement” of his behaviour or “any remorse”. And she added: “It is so serious that only a sentence of immediate custody can be justified.”
In mitigation, Alford’s barrister said the former actor 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 star’s laywyer, describing the incident as “sad” and “not one that will be repeated,” told the court his client “will of course struggle in prison because of his mental health”. He added: “Mr Shannon is a family man. His family speak highly of him. He is a loving uncle, loving brother, loving father. As a result of this his family have been targeted by people. It has been difficult for them.”
Overton said Alford will serve up to two thirds in custody before being released on license. She added that for the rest of his life, he must make police aware of where he is living and inform them if he makes any changes to his name. The pervert was also issued with a restraining order preventing him from contacting either victim either directly or indirectly and he will be on the sex offender’s register indefinitely.
