The 53-year-old actor, best known for London’s Burning and Grange Hill, was convicted of six charges. Jurors heard he gave the teenagers vodka before abusing them. One victim said tearfully, “I told him to stop because I didn’t want to have sex with an old man.”
Alford, whose real name is John Shannon, denied the allegations and claimed he was being set up. He slumped in court as the guilty verdicts were read. The judge told him: “These are very serious matters and you can expect a custodial sentence.”
The disgraced actor was once a household name, but his career collapsed after earlier drug convictions. Police called his behavior “predatory,” saying he acted only for his own gratification. He now faces jail when sentenced in December.
The shocking case has left many reflecting on how fame and trust can be so easily abused. What lessons should society learn from his downfall?
