Actor John Alford has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two teenage girls, a jury at St Albans Crown Court concluded on the final day of his trial.
The 53-year-old, who has appeared on-screen as Billy Ray in ITV's London's Burning and Robbie Wright in the BBC's Grange Hill, was accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl and engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old at a friend's house in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, in April 2022. Alford, who stood trial under his legal name John Shannon, denied the allegations and told the court he "never touched" either girl.
When the jury returned guilty verdicts, Alford put his head in his hands and shouted from the dock, "wrong, I didn't do this." Prosecuting barrister Julie Whitby told the court both girls were intoxicated at the time of the incidents and said the defendant knew they were under 16. The jury rejected Alford's denials.
Alford, of Holloway in north London, faces sentencing in December and was told to expect a custodial term. The convictions follow a trial that examined testimony about the events at the house in Hoddesdon, where the alleged offences occurred in April 2022.
The trial drew attention because of Alford's television career in the 1980s and 1990s. He rose to prominence in youth and drama series before later pursuing other ventures. Court proceedings focused on the accounts of the two complainants and the defendant's version of events, with jurors ultimately finding the prosecution's evidence sufficient for conviction.
Legal representatives for the Crown described the case to the jury and addressed the role intoxication played in the events. Alford's defence consistently maintained his innocence throughout the hearing, asserting he did not touch either girl.
Sentencing in December will determine the length and nature of any custodial sentence. The criminal convictions will also have implications for Alford's public profile and any future professional engagements tied to his acting career.
The case adds to a series of recent high-profile trials involving figures from the entertainment industry, where courts have examined historical and more recent allegations of sexual misconduct. The proceedings at St Albans Crown Court were conducted in public and followed standard criminal trial procedures, including testimony, cross-examination and judicial directions to the jury.
