Former television actor John Alford has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting two teenage girls at a party in a friend's home.
Details of the Assaults and Trial
The 54-year-old actor, known for roles in 'London's Burning' and 'Grange Hill', was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl and charges of sexual assault and assault by penetration against a 15-year-old. The offences occurred at a property in Hertfordshire on April 9, 2022.
St Albans Crown Court heard that Alford, whose real name is John Shannon, assaulted the girls after a night out at a pub. He had purchased approximately £250 worth of food, alcohol, and cigarettes from a petrol station in the early hours, including a bottle of vodka which the victims consumed.
Jurors were told that Alford had sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old in the garden of the house and later in a downstairs toilet. He also inappropriately touched the 15-year-old as she lay half-asleep on a living room sofa.
Victim Impact and Police Investigation
The police investigation was launched after the mother of the 15-year-old girl reported the allegations two days later. In her evidence, the older victim stated she felt "absolutely sick" following the assault and suffered a "mental breakdown" before confiding in a friend's mother.
Impact statements from both girls were read to the court during sentencing on Wednesday, January 14. The younger girl said the assault had "affected me and my family in every way", while the older victim stated "this man destroyed my mental wellbeing".
Recorder Caroline Overton noted the statements revealed the "significant and ongoing impact of your offending on their lives". She told Alford his focus "has remained throughout on the impact to you and to your family".
Defence, Sentencing, and Past Conviction
During the trial, Alford denied all allegations, describing them as "scandalous" and a "set-up". He claimed the girls intended to "extort money" from him and cited a lack of DNA evidence. His defence lawyer, Mohammed Bashir, emphasised Alford had no similar previous convictions.
Recorder Overton sentenced him to eight-and-a-half years in custody. He must serve at least two-thirds of the sentence before being considered for release on licence. The judge also imposed a restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order.
The court was reminded of Alford's previous conviction in 1999 for supplying cocaine to an undercover journalist, for which he served nine months. That conviction is under review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission following the later jailing of the journalist involved for tampering with evidence in a separate case.
Chris White, for the Crown Prosecution Service, stated: "John Shannon was fully aware of the girls' ages, yet he chose to exploit them... His sentence today sends a clear message – we will pursue those who target young people for their own gratification."
