A former star of the ITV drama 'London's Burning' has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting two teenage girls. Actor John Alford, 54, was convicted of multiple offences against the girls, aged 14 and 15, following a party in April 2022.
Details of the Offences and Trial
St Albans Crown Court heard that Alford, who was charged under his real name John Shannon, sexually assaulted the two girls after a night out. The actor had bought £250 worth of items, including a bottle of vodka, from a petrol station in the early hours. The victims consumed the alcohol.
Jurors were told that Alford then had sex with the 14-year-old girl in a garden and later in a downstairs toilet. He also inappropriately touched the 15-year-old girl as she lay half-asleep on a living room sofa.
The offences came to light when the mother of the 15-year-old contacted police two days later. During the trial, Alford denied all allegations, labelling them a 'scandalous' set-up and claiming the girls intended to 'extort money' from him. He also cited a lack of DNA evidence and his own mental health issues.
Victim Impact and Sentencing
In powerful statements read to the court, the victims described the profound and lasting damage caused by Alford's actions. The younger girl said the assault had 'affected me and my family in every way'. The 15-year-old stated that 'this man destroyed my mental wellbeing', adding she felt 'absolutely sick' and later suffered a 'mental breakdown'.
Sentencing Alford, Recorder Caroline Overton highlighted the 'significant and ongoing impact' on the victims' lives. She noted that the defendant's focus 'has remained throughout on the impact to you and to your family'. Alford shook his head from the dock as the sentence was passed.
In addition to the custodial term, Alford was handed a restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order. He must serve two-thirds of his sentence in custody before being released on licence.
Previous Conviction and Case Conclusion
This is not Alford's first conviction. In 1999, he was jailed for nine months for supplying drugs to an undercover 'Fake Sheikh' journalist from the News of the World. The court also heard he later received £500,000 from the newspaper's publisher over phone hacking claims.
Chris White, for the Crown Prosecution Service, commended the victims' bravery. 'John Shannon was fully aware of the girls’ ages, yet he chose to exploit them,' he said. 'His sentence today sends a clear message – we will pursue those who target young people for their own gratification.'
Defence barrister Mohammed Bashir said Alford had no previous similar offences and had not reoffended in the time since the 2022 attacks.
