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 house party in Hertfordshire.
Verdict and Sentencing at St Albans Crown Court
John Alford, 54, who appeared in court under his birth name John Shannon, was found guilty on all counts following a week-long trial at St Albans Crown Court. The jury deliberated for more than 13 hours before reaching its verdicts in January 2026. As the guilty verdicts were read out, Shannon reportedly put his head in his hands and shouted from the dock: ‘Wrong, I didn’t do this’.
The court heard that the offences took place in the early hours of 9 April 2022 at a property in Hertfordshire. The actor, known for playing firefighter Billy Ray in ITV's London's Burning and Robbie Wright in BBC's Grange Hill, was convicted of sexually assaulting two girls aged 14 and 15.
Details of the Assaults Emerge in Court
Prosecutor Julie Whitby told the jury that Shannon was in no doubt both girls were under 16. The court was told that both victims had been drinking alcohol and were drunk after a night out at a pub. The offences occurred at the home of a third girl, whose father was friends with Shannon.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Shannon had bought £250 worth of food, alcohol, and cigarettes, including a bottle of vodka, from a nearby petrol station in the early hours. He had returned to the house with the homeowner after a night out.
Shannon faced four counts of sexual activity with the 14-year-old girl, along with charges of sexual assault and assault by penetration relating to the 15-year-old. The prosecution stated he gave the girls alcohol before having sexual intercourse with the younger girl in the garden and a downstairs bathroom. It was also alleged he inappropriately touched the 15-year-old while she lay half-asleep on a living room sofa.
Victim Impact and Police Investigation
One of the victims told the court she felt ‘absolutely sick’ following the assault. She described how, after being dropped off at the other girl's home, they immediately went into the bathroom together to ‘speak about everything that happened’. She later opened up about the incidents on 11 April while visiting a friend. ‘I had a mental breakdown to my best mate’s mum in the garden and she called my mum,’ she said.
In a video recording of her police interview played to the jury, the younger girl said she had never had sex before that night and told officers: ‘I told him to stop because I didn’t want to have sex with an old man.’
During the trial, Shannon denied all allegations, becoming emotional and telling jurors he had ‘never touched either of them girls’. He also disclosed previous criminal convictions dating back to 1999, including offences relating to supplying drugs, disorderly behaviour, drink-driving, criminal damage, and obstructing police. He claimed a drug supply conviction had resulted in him being ‘blacklisted’ as an actor.
The charges followed an investigation by Hertfordshire’s specialist Sexual Offences Investigation Team. The trial, originally scheduled for December, was postponed after Alford collapsed.
Lawyer Chris White for the Crown Prosecution Service said: ‘John Shannon was fully aware of the girl’s ages, yet he chose to exploit them’. He commended the victims for their bravery and stated the sentence sends a clear message that those who target young people will be pursued.
Investigator Laura Harrison from Hertfordshire Constabulary praised the victims' bravery, adding: ‘Shannon has not shown a sign of remorse’. She expressed hope the victims could now move on knowing their offender is behind bars for a considerable time.
