John Alford, who appeared on Grange Hill and London’s Burning, has been spotted in court today to be sentenced for sexually assaulting two teenage girls.
Alford, who was tried under his real name of John Shannon, was found guilty in September of allegations he was accused of sexually assaulting a 14 and 15 year old at a party at his friend’s house in April 2022.
Alford deemed to pose a medium risk of danger
The court has heard neither of the victims, who are watching the hearing via screens, wish to read their victim impact statements to the court themselves.
They will instead be read by the prosecution barrister.
Inside the courtroom
Alford awaits his sentence in the dock
John Alford hugs female companions as he awaits sentencing hearing
Alford is wearing a black suit, white shirt and black tie.
He is waiting outside court two at St Albans Crown Court accompanied by a group of family and friends.
Police statement
Speaking after his sentencing investigator Laura Harrison, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team, said: “Throughout this trial, Shannon consistently denied any sexual activity and maintained that the two child victims were attempting to extort him for money—despite the fact that neither child knew who Shannon was, nor that he was an actor, as they were born long after his career began. At no point did Shannon accept responsibility, admit guilt, or show any remorse for his actions.
“There is no doubt that Shannon’s behaviour that evening was predatory and carried out solely for his own sexual gratification.
Victims speak out
Alford 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 raped.
She said: “I told him to stop because I didn’t want to have sex with an old man”.
The court heard Alford, who played Billy Ray in ITV drama London’s Burning and Robbie Wright in BBC children’s series Grange Hill, asked her ‘do you want this babe?’ to which she replied “no”.
She told police she asked him to stop “three or four times”.
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 assault 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.
Sick attacks after impromptu party following pub nighto ut
The court previously heard Alford, who was tried under his real name, John Shannon, carried out the attacks at an impromptu party after a night out at a pub in April 2022.
The girls, who did not previously know him, were enjoying a sleepover at the home of a third girl, whose father was friends with Alford.
The fiend bought £250 worth of food, alcohol and cigarettes from a nearby petrol station in the early hours of the morning, including a bottle of vodka, which his victims subsequently drank.
Alford went on to have sex with the 14-year-old girl in the garden of the property and later in a downstairs toilet.
Alford’s acting roles
Before his downfall, Alford was an actor – first scooping on-screen roles as a child.
He first appeared in ITV sitcom Not and Then before landing the role of Robbie Wright in Grange Hill – which he played from 1985 to 1990.
He went on to star in London’s Burning from 1993 to 1998, playing fireman Billy Ray in the show. He then gained a role in 2001 movie Mike Bassett: England Manager and played the role of a drug dealer in 2003 film Mile High. He also appeared twice in Casualty.
Alford’s outburst after guilty verdict
What was John Alford convicted of?
The disgraced actor was found guilty of committing 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 at a party.
The trial heard how in the early hours of Saturday 9 April 2022, two girls were having a sleepover at a friend’s house in Hoddeson when Alford arrived at the property intoxicated.
Source: Mirror
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