Former television actor John Alford has been convicted of sexually assaulting two teenage girls aged 14 and 15 at a house party in Hertfordshire, bringing an end to a trial that saw the 53-year-old break down in tears whilst maintaining his innocence.
The jury at St Albans Crown Court delivered their guilty verdict on Friday, finding the London’s Burning and Grange Hill star guilty on all six charges relating to incidents that occurred in April 2022. The actor, who was charged under his real name John Shannon, had vehemently denied the allegations throughout the proceedings.
The conviction marks a dramatic fall from grace for the former child star who once appeared alongside future EastEnders actors Sid Owen and Patsy Palmer at the prestigious Anna Scher Theatre School.
Intoxicated Victims at Hoddesdon Party
The court heard harrowing evidence that both teenage victims were intoxicated when the sexual assaults took place during what prosecutors described as “a bit of a party” at a friend’s home in Hoddesdon. The incidents allegedly occurred in the early hours of 9 April 2022, after Alford arrived at the property around 2am with the homeowner’s father following a night at the pub.
Prosecutor Julie Whitby told jurors that Alford “was in no doubt both the girls were under 16” when he engaged in sexual activity with them. The 14-year-old victim had unsuccessfully attempted to call her mother and order an Uber to leave the property after other friends departed around 12.30am.
According to the prosecution’s case, Alford sexually assaulted the younger girl twice, first in the garden and later in a downstairs toilet. In a recorded police interview played to the court, the victim stated “he raped me” and claimed she asked him to stop “three or four times.
The 15-year-old victim told police she “felt absolutely sick” after the assault. In video evidence shown to jurors, she revealed she had a “mental breakdown” at another friend’s house two days later, prompting her to speak out about what had happened.
Actor’s Tearful Denials and Set-Up Claims
During emotional testimony, Alford broke down in tears whilst denying the allegations, declaring he would maintain his innocence “until the day I die.” The Holloway resident told the court he had been “blacklisted” from acting following a 1999 drugs conviction and suggested the allegations were part of an extortion attempt.
Wearing a grey jacket and shirt in court, Alford claimed the 14-year-old girl “kept trying to grope me” and attempted to kiss him whilst sitting on his lap in the garden. He testified: “Within a second, she was sitting on my lap with her arms around me, trying to kiss me. I recoiled, I stood up. I literally had to prize her off.”
The actor told jurors he had to tell the girl “in no uncertain terms, ‘no'” and insisted: “I did not reciprocate in any way, shape or form at any time.”
Defence barrister Houzla Rawat questioned whether the girls were being “physically friendly” towards the defendant throughout the evening, but both victims denied this characterisation of events.
Threatening Phone Call and Extortion Claims
Alford alleged he received a threatening phone call the day after the party from someone with what he described as “an Irish-sounding traveller-type voice” demanding money. He told the court the caller said: “Is that John? Do yourself a favour and come to Broxbourne car park, Hoddesdon.
When the caller demanded he bring money, Alford said he told them to “f*** off” and interpreted the call as an extortion attempt linked to the sexual assault allegations. He had told police after his arrest that the accusations were “scandalous” and constituted “a set-up.
The actor admitted bringing vodka to the house from a petrol station but insisted: “It wasn’t for the girls. The beers were for me.” He claimed he consumed most of a vodka bottle himself but maintained: “I don’t lose my morals no matter how drunk I am.”
Victims’ Trauma and Delayed Reporting
The court heard both girls initially remained silent about the assaults because they had consumed “a fair amount of vodka” during the evening. The 15-year-old’s mother contacted police on 11 April 2022 after learning of the allegations, with Alford arrested the following day.
The younger victim, now 18, became tearful whilst giving evidence before a packed public gallery. She told jurors she had never had sex before the night of the alleged incidents and described feeling strange when Alford asked her to sit on his lap in the garden.
Prosecutor Julie Whitby explained to jurors: “Most children, if an adult is telling you to do something, you’ll do it, especially if you are drunk or impaired.”
The 15-year-old victim described Alford’s behaviour on the night as “overly friendly, overly nice” adding “he just wanted to be a kid.” She said the assault occurred around 8am when “we were all just like dozing off. That was when John started to touch me.”
Fall From Grace for Child Star
The conviction represents a spectacular downfall for Alford, who began his acting career at age nine and rose to fame playing Robbie Wright in BBC’s Grange Hill from 1985 to 1990. He later starred as fireman Billy Ray in ITV’s London’s Burning from 1993 to 1998.
The Glasgow-born actor also enjoyed brief chart success in 1996, achieving three top 40 singles including “Blue Moon/Only You” which reached number nine. His music career was produced by the legendary Stock/Waterman team.
Alford’s career had already suffered following his 1999 conviction for supplying drugs to News of the World undercover journalist Mazher Mahmood, known as the “fake sheikh.” He served six weeks of a nine-month sentence before being released on electronic tagging.
The actor told jurors he had received £500,000 compensation for phone hacking by the News of the World, though he stated most of the money went to solicitors and supporters. Following the collapse of singer Tulisa’s trial in 2014, when a judge said there were “strong grounds for believing” Mahmood had committed perjury, Alford told BBC’s Panorama that his drugs conviction had led him to suicidal thoughts.
Six Charges and Unanimous Verdict
Alford faced six charges in total: four counts of sexual activity with the 14-year-old girl and two further counts relating to the 15-year-old of sexual assault and assault by penetration. The jury found him guilty on all counts following a trial that began on 26 August 2025.
During the trial, jurors heard Alford had arrived at the property with alcohol purchased from a shop, though he insisted he never gave drinks to the girls, claiming “they were hiding the drinking.
The father of four had pleaded not guilty to all charges at St Albans Crown Court in September 2023, maintaining his innocence throughout the proceedings. Hertfordshire Constabulary’s specialist Sexual Offences Investigation Team had investigated the case following the initial report in April 2022.
Sentencing for Alford is expected to take place at a later date. The conviction carries potential significant custodial sentences given the ages of the victims and the multiple counts on which he has been found guilty.
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