Disgraced actor John Alford, known for his roles in Grange Hill and London's Burning, died of ischaemic heart disease, an inquest has heard. The 54-year-old was found dead in his cell at HMP Bure in Norfolk in March, just weeks into an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for sexual offences against two teenage girls.
His provisional cause of death was recorded as ischaemic heart disease, which can cause a heart attack, fatal arrhythmia or sudden cardiac death. The inquest opening lasted only minutes, with a full hearing scheduled for September to examine further evidence surrounding his death.
Alford, whose real name was John Shannon, was convicted in January of four counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of sexual assault and assault by penetration. The court heard he plied his victims with alcohol before assaulting them at a sleepover.
He had previously fallen from grace after being sacked from London's Burning in 1999 for drug offences, serving six weeks of a nine-month sentence for supplying cocaine and cannabis. Despite his denials, he was found guilty of the recent offences and was serving his sentence at the Category C prison when he died.
