Actor John Alford has been found guilty of of sexually assaulting girls aged 14 and 15 at a friend’s home.
The verdict came just days after he broke down in tears whilst denying allegations of sexual assault involving the two teenage girls.
The 53-year-old former star of London’s Burning and Grange Hill faced six charges relating to incidents at a Hertfordshire house party in April 2022.
The actor, charged under his real name John Shannon, told police after his arrest that the allegations were “scandalous” and constituted “a set-up”.
He maintained his innocence throughout emotional testimony, declaring he would uphold his denial “until the day I die”.
The prosecution alleged Alford engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl in both a garden and a toilet at the property.
A second girl, aged 15, claimed she was sexually assaulted by the actor during the same evening.
Prosecutor Julie Whitby told jurors that Alford “was in no doubt both the girls were under 16”.
LATEST ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:
Jeremy Clarkson pulls no punches with savage Angela Rayner resignation verdict as Deputy PM quitsAdil Ray claims he’s been victim of ‘horrendous’ racist attacks following ITV GMB migrant debatesNaga Munchetty ignites BBC ‘BIAS’ row thanks to ‘confrontational’ clash with Reform’ UKs Zia Yusuf
The court heard the teenagers were intoxicated when the alleged incidents occurred during what was described as “a bit of a party” at a friend’s home in Hoddesdon.
According to prosecutors, the 14-year-old told police in a recorded interview that “he raped me” and claimed she asked him to stop “three or four times”.
Alford testified that the 14-year-old girl “kept trying to grope me” and attempted to kiss him whilst sitting on his lap in the garden.
He claimed he “recoiled” and had to “prize her off”, telling her “in no uncertain terms, ‘no'”.
The actor alleged he received a threatening phone call the day after the party from someone with “an Irish-sounding traveller-type voice” demanding he bring money to a Broxbourne car park. He interpreted this as an extortion attempt linked to the allegations.
Alford insisted he consumed most of a vodka bottle himself but maintained: “I don’t lose my morals no matter how drunk I am.”
The Holloway resident revealed he had been “blacklisted” from acting following a 1999 drugs conviction involving undercover journalist Mazher Mahmood.
Alford received £500,000 compensation for phone hacking by the News of the World, though he stated most went to solicitors and supporters.
He began his acting career aged nine, training at Anna Scher Theatre alongside future EastEnders stars Sid Owen and Patsy Palmer.
Alford achieved chart success in 1996 with three top 40 singles produced by Stock/Waterman.