John Alford, the actor known for roles in Grange Hill and London's Burning, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two teenage girls aged 14 and 15. The 53-year-old, tried under his real name John Shannon, was convicted at St Albans Crown Court on Friday after a week-long trial.
The charges included four counts of sexual activity with the younger girl, and sexual assault and assault by penetration relating to the second teenager. The offences occurred at a property in Hertfordshire on 9 April 2022, after Alford bought alcohol and cigarettes for the girls, including a bottle of vodka.
Jurors heard that Alford had sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old in the garden and later in a downstairs toilet, and inappropriately touched the 15-year-old as she lay half asleep on a sofa. One victim said she felt 'absolutely sick' and later had a 'mental breakdown'.
Alford shouted 'wrong, I didn't do this' from the dock as the verdicts were read. He had previous convictions dating back to 1999, including for drug supply, and claimed he was 'blacklisted' as an actor. He denied the offences, saying 'I didn't touch them'.
Recorder Caroline Overton granted Alford conditional bail before sentencing on 4 December, warning him to expect a custodial sentence for the 'very serious matters'.
