An investigation has been launched into the death of actor John Alford, who died in prison two months into an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for sexually assaulting two teenage girls. Alford, 54, passed away at HMP Bure in Norfolk on Friday, the Prison Service confirmed.
Alford, whose real name was John Shannon, was convicted in January 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 during a party at a friend's home in Hertfordshire in 2022.
The court heard that Alford bought £250 worth of food, alcohol and cigarettes, including a bottle of vodka, which the victims drank. He then sexually assaulted the girls while they were drunk. The 15-year-old girl said she felt 'absolutely sick' after the assault and had a 'mental breakdown' before reporting it.
Alford denied the allegations, calling them 'scandalous' and a 'setup', and claimed there was no DNA evidence. He had previous convictions dating back to 1999, including for drug supply, which he said led to him being 'blacklisted' as an actor.
Alford was best known for playing firefighter Billy Ray in ITV's London's Burning, a role he held from 1992 for six series. As a child actor, he appeared in Grange Hill as Robbie Wright from 1985 to 1989 and featured on the cast's Just Say No anti-drug single.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: 'As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.' The cause of death has not been released, but current thinking suggests no one else was involved.
