Former London’s Burning actor John Alford has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two teenage girls.
The 53-year-old was accused of and denied sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl during a party at a friend’s home. He was charged with four counts of sexual activity with a 14-year-old and assault by penetration relating to the 15-year-old at a property in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire in April 9, 2022.
A jury at St Albans Crown Court convicted Alford of all charges on Friday (September 5) after a week-long trial and over 13 hours of deliberations. Alford, who was charged under his real name John Shannon, put his head in his hand and shouted “wrong, I didn’t do this” from the dock as the guilty verdicts were read out in court.
Jurors heard during the trial that Alford sexually assaulted the girls while they were drunk after a night out at the pub. All of the offences took place at the home of a third girl whose father was friends with Alford.
(Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
The former actor, who also appeared in the BBC drama Grange Hill, bought some £250 worth of food, alcohol and cigarettes from a nearby petrol station in the early hours of the morning, including a bottle of vodka which the victims proceeded to drink.
After this, Alford had sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old girl in the garden of the home and later in a downstairs toilet, and inappropriately touched the 15-year-old girl as she lay half asleep on the living room sofa.
Prosecuting barrister Julie Whitby said both girls were drunk when the crimes occurred. She said Alford knew they were under 16, but he claimed he never touched either of the girls.
(Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Police received a report from the 15-year-old girl’s mother on April 11 2022, outlining the allegations, jurors were told. Alford was then arrested the following day after both girls were interviewed.
The 15-year-old said Alford sexually touched her. The younger girl said Alford had sex with her in the garden and inside the downstairs toilet.
Jurors were told on Monday at St Albans Crown Court that while being interviewed by police, Alford had said: “None of this makes sense. It’s a set-up. I didn’t rape anyone. I am not a nonce. This is f****** scandalous.”
Alford, who cried while giving evidence in the trial, told jurors “I never touched either of them girls”, saying there was “no DNA” evidence and that he would stand by his denial “until the day I die”.
The father-of-four added: “I did not do anything inappropriate. I acted with good intentions all night. I am not a nonce. I wouldn’t touch a child.
“If you do that where I’m from, that’s called street justice – I wouldn’t have made it to the court. If anyone in my area believed I could have possibly done this, I would be dead by now.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
