John Alford, the former television actor best known for roles in Grange Hill and London's Burning, has been convicted of sexual offences involving underage girls and faces a possible prison term, court proceedings confirmed Thursday.
A jury found Alford, 53, guilty of having sex with a 14-year-old and of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old at a party at a Hertfordshire home, the court heard. Prosecutors said the offences occurred at the home of a third girl who was friends with the victims. Alford told the court he had been the target of a blackmail plot but was convicted following the trial.
Alford rose to nationwide fame as a child and young adult actor in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming one of British television's most recognisable faces. He achieved chart success as a singer in the mid-1990s, recording three top-20 singles, including a cover of the show tune "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and the anti-drug track "Just Say No", performed with cast members of Grange Hill, which reached number five in the singles chart.
His public profile was severely damaged after he was targeted in an undercover drugs operation by investigative reporter Mazher Mahmood, widely known as the "Fake Sheikh". Alford was convicted of supplying cocaine and cannabis to an undercover reporter and served six weeks of a nine-month sentence. Those events precipitated a collapse in his acting career; reports indicate he later struggled to find work and at times relied on state benefits.
Alford's latest conviction adds to his legal troubles and is likely to influence his sentencing, which is to be scheduled by the court. Legal penalties for the offences for which he was found guilty can include immediate imprisonment.
The case marks another high-profile fall from prominence for a performer who once enjoyed mainstream success on children's television and primetime drama. His defence stance at trial, including allegations of a blackmail plot, did not persuade jurors, who returned guilty verdicts on the charges relating to the two underage victims.
Alford's representation did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Court officials declined to provide further detail beyond the verdict and arrangements for sentencing.
The ruling comes amid continued public scrutiny of journalists who used undercover and sometimes deceptive methods to secure stories. Mazher Mahmood, the reporter involved in Alford's earlier drugs sting, has been described in media reports as having used aggressive tactics in a number of high-profile investigations, and his conduct has itself been the subject of legal and editorial review.
Alford's conviction will now be considered by the sentencing judge, who will take into account the nature of the offences, any previous convictions and the defendants' mitigation. The outcome will determine whether the former actor returns to custody and could have lasting consequences for his future prospects within the entertainment industry.