Former television actor John Alford has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for a series of sexual assaults on two underage girls. The 53-year-old, known for roles in London's Burning and Grange Hill, showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down at St Albans Crown Court.
The Night of the Assaults
The attacks occurred in the early hours of a morning in April 2022, following a night out at a pub in Hertfordshire. The court heard that Alford, tried under his real name John Shannon, was at an impromptu party at a property where two girls, aged 14 and 15, were having a sleepover.
After other adults went to bed, Alford became the sole adult present. He went to a nearby garage and purchased £269 worth of alcohol, food, and cigarettes, including beer, rum, and flavoured vodka. The girls, who were in what should have been a safe environment, drank from the bottle of vodka he provided.
Graphic Details and Victim Impact
The jury found Alford guilty of multiple charges, including two counts of sexual activity with a child and penetrative sexual assault. The 14-year-old victim, who had never had sex before, stated she was raped in the garden and later in a downstairs toilet, telling him to stop multiple times.
Victim impact statements, read to the court, laid bare the profound and lasting trauma inflicted. The 14-year-old described undergoing painful sexual health examinations, taking the morning-after pill, and receiving injections for HIV prevention. "I'm the victim of penetrative sexual assault. Being sexually assaulted has affected my family in every way," her statement said.
She spoke of her GCSEs being ruined, a loss of personal hygiene, and a constant fear. "I remember what John smelled like," she told the court, adding she has flashbacks and nightmares.
The 15-year-old victim's statement revealed she engaged in severe self-harm for years after the attack and attempted to take her own life at age 16. "This man destroyed my mental wellbeing," she said. She described burning her thighs and cutting herself deeply, and now struggles with public transport and being alone at night.
Defence, Previous Convictions, and Sentencing
In mitigation, Alford's barrister said his client had been diagnosed with ADHD and other mental health issues, and recognised he had a lifelong problem with alcohol. The barrister described the incident as "sad" and claimed Alford, a father of four, was a "family man" who would struggle in prison.
The court was reminded that Alford has previous convictions, including a 1999 sentence for supplying drugs to an undercover journalist. He also has convictions for drink-driving, disorderly behaviour, and obstructing police.
Recorder Caroline Overton, passing sentence, emphasised Alford's breach of trust, stating he was "fully aware the girls were 14 and 15 years of age." The prosecution requested a restraining order to prevent contact with the victims.
During his trial, Alford had claimed the allegations were a "setup," but the jury convicted him after a week-long trial and over 13 hours of deliberation. When the verdicts were read, he shouted "wrong, I didn't do this" from the dock.
