Former Grange Hill and London's Burning actor John Alford, 53, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two teenage girls aged 14 and 15. The offences took place at a property in Hertfordshire on 9 April 2022.
Alford, whose real name is John Shannon, was convicted at St Albans Crown Court after a week-long trial. He was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with the younger girl, and charges of sexual assault and assault by penetration relating to the second teenager.
The court heard that Alford bought £250 worth of food, alcohol and cigarettes, including a bottle of vodka, which the victims drank. He then had sex with the 14-year-old in the garden and a downstairs toilet, and inappropriately touched the 15-year-old as she lay on a sofa.
One victim said she felt 'absolutely sick' and later had a 'mental breakdown'. The other told police she told him to stop because she 'didn't want to have sex with an old man'. Alford shouted 'wrong, I didn't do this' as the verdicts were read.
Alford, of Holloway, north London, has previous convictions including drug supply, which he claimed led to him being 'blacklisted' as an actor. He was granted conditional bail and will be sentenced on 4 December, with the judge warning he faces a custodial sentence.
