**Former Actor John Alford Convicted of Sexual Assault on Minors**
**Meta Description:** John Alford, known for his role in Grange Hill, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two teenage girls at a friend’s home.
**URL Slug:** john-alford-sexual-assault-conviction
**Headline:** John Alford Found Guilty of Sexual Assault Against Teenage Girls
Former actor John Alford, recognized for his role in the BBC series Grange Hill, has been convicted of sexually assaulting two teenage girls, aged 14 and 15, at a friend’s residence. The incidents occurred after a night out at a pub, where the girls had consumed alcohol.
During the trial at St Albans Crown Court, jurors learned that the 53-year-old, who was charged under his real name, John Shannon, purchased £250 worth of food, alcohol, and cigarettes from a nearby petrol station in the early hours of April 9, 2022. This included a bottle of vodka that the victims drank. Alford then proceeded to engage in sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old in the garden and later in a downstairs toilet, while also inappropriately touching the 15-year-old as she lay half asleep on the living room sofa.
Despite denying four counts of sexual activity with the younger girl and charges of sexual assault and assault by penetration concerning the second teenager, Alford was found guilty after 13 hours of jury deliberation. He expressed his disbelief in court, claiming the allegations were a “set-up” and maintained his innocence, stating, “I didn’t do this.”
Throughout the week-long trial, Alford, who became emotional while testifying, insisted he never touched either girl and highlighted the absence of DNA evidence. However, the 15-year-old victim recounted her experience, stating, “We were all just like dozing off. That was when John started to touch me.” She described feeling “sick” after the assault and initially hesitated to report the incident.
In a recorded police interview, the 14-year-old victim revealed that she had never had sexual relations before the alleged incidents, stating, “I told him to stop because I didn’t want to have sex with an old man.”
The conviction of John Alford serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of sexual assault and the importance of supporting victims in coming forward.
**FAQ**
**What was John Alford convicted of?**
John Alford was convicted of sexually assaulting two teenage girls, aged 14 and 15, at a friend’s home after they had been drinking.