The ex-actor was found guilty of abusing two girls, aged 14 and 15, after a night of drinking

Former television actor John Alford has been convicted of multiple sexual offences against two underage girls after a trial at St Albans crown court.

The 53-year-old, best known for roles in Grange Hill and London’s Burning, was found guilty of sexually assaulting two teenagers, aged 14 and 15, during incidents at a house in Hertfordshire on 9 April 2022.

Alford, who was tried under his birth name John Shannon, faced four charges of sexual activity with the younger girl and additional counts of sexual assault and assault by penetration involving the 15-year-old. After a week-long hearing and more than 13 hours of deliberation, the jury unanimously convicted him of all charges.

As the verdicts were delivered, Alford shouted from the dock: “Wrong, I didn’t do this,” and put his head in his hands.

The court heard that the former actor had spent the evening drinking at a pub with friends before buying £250 worth of food, cigarettes and alcohol, including vodka, from a nearby petrol station. He then returned to the home of a teenage girl whose father was his acquaintance. There, the two victims drank alcohol before the assaults occurred.

Prosecutors told the jury that Alford had sex with the 14-year-old in the garden and again in a downstairs toilet, despite her telling him to stop. In a video-recorded police interview, the girl said: “I told him to stop because I didn’t want to have sex with an old man.”

The second victim said Alford touched her while she lay half-asleep on a sofa in the living room. She described feeling “absolutely sick” afterwards and confided in friends soon after. Speaking in court, she recalled suffering a breakdown in front of her best friend’s mother just days later: “I had a mental breakdown to my best mate’s mum in the garden and she called my mum.”

Both victims spoke of the lasting psychological impact. The 15-year-old said she immediately showered after being dropped off at a friend’s house, later discussing what had happened with the other girl.

Alford denied all allegations. Taking the stand in his defence, he broke down in tears, insisting: “I haven’t done this. No DNA. I didn’t touch them. I think science proves me not guilty.” He described the accusations as a “setup” and maintained his innocence throughout the trial.

The jury, however, rejected his claims after hearing testimony from both girls and reviewing the evidence.

During the proceedings, Alford acknowledged his criminal record, which stretches back to 1999 and includes convictions for drug supply, disorderly behaviour, drink-driving, obstructing police and criminal damage. He claimed his drug conviction led to him being “blacklisted” in the entertainment industry.

Recorder Caroline Overton released him on conditional bail until sentencing, scheduled for 4 December. However, she warned him that a prison term was inevitable: “You have been convicted of very serious matters and should expect a custodial sentence.”

Alford, who played Robbie Wright in the BBC school drama Grange Hill and Billy Ray in ITV’s London’s Burning, now faces the prospect of spending years behind bars.

The case has sparked outrage among former fans, with many shocked that a once-familiar face on British television was found guilty of such grave offences. For the victims, the guilty verdicts mark the end of a harrowing ordeal and the beginning of long-awaited justice.