Actor John Alford guilty of sexually assaulting two girls

Brian FarmerBBC Information, Hertfordshire andDanny FullbrookBBC Information, HertfordshirePA MediaJohn Alford stated he “by no means touched” both of the teenage women who accused him, however the jury disagreedActor John Alford has been discovered responsible of sexually assaulting two teenage women.The London’s Burning star had denied sexual exercise with a 14-year-old lady and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old lady at a good friend’s home in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, in April 2022.The 53-year-old, of Holloway, north London, had been standing trial underneath his actual title of John Shannon.Showing at St Albans Crown Courtroom, Alford put his head in fingers and shouted “flawed, I did not do that” from the dock as the decision was learn out. He was informed to anticipate a jail time period when he’s sentenced in December.Alford performed Billy Ray within the ITV fireplace brigade drama and Robbie Wright within the BBC’s college sequence Grange Hill.Prosecuting barrister Julie Whitby stated each women have been drunk when the assaults occurred.She stated Alford knew they have been underneath 16, however he claimed in courtroom that he “by no means touched” both lady.PA MediaJohn Alford appeared within the ITV drama London’s BurningThe courtroom heard that on 9 April 2022, Alford purchased about £250 price of meals, alcohol and cigarettes from a close-by petrol station within the early hours of the morning.This included a bottle of vodka which the victims subsequently drank.Alford stated he had been consuming with the good friend at a close-by pub, and the women have been on the home having a sleepover with the good friend’s daughter.’Previous man’The youthful lady stated Alford had intercourse along with her within the backyard and within the downstairs rest room.Jurors have been proven a video of the 14-year-old’s police interview, during which she acknowledged she had been raped.The lady informed the courtroom she didn’t know Alford previous to the assault and had by no means had intercourse earlier than.”I informed him to cease as a result of I did not need to have intercourse with an outdated man,” she stated.She informed police she requested him to cease “three or 4 instances”.Each women didn’t say something in regards to the alleged assaults instantly after they occurred as they’d been consuming “a good quantity of vodka”, Ms Whitby stated.John Alford (left) as Robbie Wright and George Christopher (proper) as Ziggy Greaves in Grange HillPolice obtained a report from the 15-year-old’s mom two days later, outlining the allegations, jurors have been informed.The older lady stated Alford sexually touched her as she was half asleep on a lounge couch.The actor denied this whereas giving proof saying “in no way… I by no means touched both of them women”.He started to cry as he informed jurors: “I have never executed this.”No DNA. I did not contact them. I believe science proves me not responsible.”The prosecution stated a “little bit of a celebration” had been staged, which Alford denied.He stated he thought he is likely to be the sufferer of an extortion plot.The jury returned its verdict after 13 hours of deliberations with Alford discovered responsible on 4 counts of sexual exercise with the youthful lady, and of sexual assault and assault by penetration referring to the older teenager.It discovered Alford responsible by a majority verdict of 10 to 2.Hertfordshire PoliceJohn Alford shall be sentenced for the intercourse assaults at a later dateJurors at St Albans Crown Courtroom have been informed that Alford had a lot of earlier convictions – though none for intercourse offences – and had been to jail.They heard that he had been convicted of supplying medication in 1999 and was jailed for 9 months.Alford had been lured to a resort by Information of the World journalist Mazher “Faux Sheikh” Mahmood, who was posing as an Arabian prince, and secretly filmed supplying cocaine and hashish, Snaresbrook Crown Courtroom heard.The decide at Snaresbrook stated there had been a component of entrapment within the case.Alford informed jurors in St Albans he had been “blacklisted” as an actor following that conviction.St Albans’ jurors additionally heard Alford had been convicted of disorderly behaviour, drink -driving, inflicting felony harm and obstructing a police officer.Alford additionally stated he had suffered psychological well being difficulties and had issues with alcohol.Jurors have been informed, that after authorized motion, he had obtained a £500,000 settlement from the Information of the World’s publishers, after complaining that his telephone had been hacked.Throughout the St Albans trial, he stated “solicitors obtained most it”.The decide, Recorder Caroline Overton, granted the actor conditional bail forward of his sentencing on the identical courtroom on 4 December.The circumstances included:a every day curfew for Alford between 18:00 and 06:00he should report back to a police station on Mondays and Fridayshe can not make contact with anybody underneath the age of 18 apart from his circle of relatives membersShe warned him he had been convicted of “very critical issues” and will anticipate a custodial sentence.