Former London's Burning actor John Alford guilty of sexually assaulting girls aged 14 and 15

John Alford, a 53-year-old actor known for his roles in Grange Hill and London's Burning, has been convicted of sexually assaulting two teenage girls, aged 14 and 15. The incidents occurred at a friend's home in Hertfordshire on April 9, 2022.

According to testimony from St Albans Crown Court, Alford sexually assaulted the girls while they were intoxicated after a night out. He had purchased a significant amount of food, alcohol, and cigarettes, including a bottle of vodka that the victims drank. The jury heard that he had sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old in the garden and a downstairs toilet and also inappropriately touched the 15-year-old as she was half asleep.

Alford, charged under his real name, John Shannon, denied all charges, claiming the allegations were a "set-up." He maintained his innocence throughout the trial, shouting "Wrong, I didn't do this" as the verdicts were read. However, after 13 hours of deliberation, the jury found him guilty.

During the trial, one of the victims, the 14-year-old, told the court in a police interview that she had told him to stop, stating, "I didn't want to have sex with an old man." The 15-year-old victim said she felt "absolutely sick" after the assault.