John Alford, the actor best known for his role in the ITV drama London’s Burning, has died in prison at the age of 54. Alford, whose real name was John Shannon, was serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for sexually assaulting two teenage girls.
He died at HMP Bure in Norfolk on Friday, two months after being jailed in January. The Prison Service confirmed his death and said an investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman would take place, as is standard for all deaths in custody.
Alford was convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl and charges of sexual assault and assault by penetration relating to a 15-year-old girl. The offences occurred at a property in Hertfordshire in 2022 after a night out at a pub. He had bought alcohol, including vodka, which the victims drank.
During the trial at St Albans Crown Court, Alford denied the allegations, calling them “scandalous” and a “setup”. He had previous convictions dating back to 1999, including for drug supply, which he claimed led to him being blacklisted as an actor.
Alford was born in Glasgow but grew up in London. He played firefighter Billy Ray in London’s Burning from 1992 for six series, and earlier appeared as Robbie Wright in Grange Hill from 1985 to 1989.
