Ex-Actor John Alford Jailed 8.5 Years for Teen Assaults

John Alford, a former actor known for roles in the television series London's Burning and Grange Hill, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison on Wednesday after being convicted of sexually assaulting two teenage girls at a house party in Hertfordshire. The 54-year-old, whose real name is John Shannon and who resides in north London, was found guilty following a trial at St Albans Crown Court.

The offenses occurred on April 9, 2022, at a home in Hoddesdon during what began as a gathering involving the homeowner, with whom Alford had been drinking at a nearby pub. The victims, aged 14 and 15, were present at the property, which belonged to a third girl whose father was acquainted with Alford. Court proceedings revealed that Alford purchased approximately 250 pounds worth of food, alcohol, and cigarettes from a local petrol station in the early morning hours, including a bottle of vodka that the girls later consumed, leaving them intoxicated.

Prosecutors stated that Alford was aware the girls were under 16 but provided them with alcohol before committing the assaults. He engaged in sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old in the garden and later in a downstairs toilet....