Disgraced London’s Burning star John Alford has been found dead in prison just weeks after being jailed for abusing two underage girls, according to reports.
The Sun reported that Alford, 54, was found unresponsive on his bed when staff opened his cell door on Friday, March 13, at Category C HMP Bure in Norfolk. Medics were allegedly called "but when they tried to wake him there was no response and they realised he was dead." Prior to his death, the former actor was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl during a sleepover at a friend's home during the Easter holidays. A jury at St Albans Crown Court found Alford guilty of all charges following a week-long trial and more than 13 hours of deliberations. Alford, who was prosecuted under his real name John Shannon, placed his head in his hands and shouted: "Wrong, I didn't do this" from the dock as the guilty verdicts were delivered in court.
He fought back tears in court, claiming he “never touched” either girl. He told jurors: “I have been accused of the most horrific crime anyone can ever be accused of. I didn’t do anything inappropriate.”
Alford was recognised for his role in the BBC school drama Grange Hill in the 1980s would later achieve his fame as Fireman Billy Ray in London's Burning in the 1990s.
He secured the part of rebel Robbie Wright on BBC's Grange Hill when he was 13, appearing alongside Simone Hyams and George Christopher.
Up to eight million viewers watched the programme and Alford was amongst the cast involved in its anti-drugs campaign, performing with others in its widely-played single "Just Say No".
Ironically, towards the conclusion of his Grange Hill period, Alford subsequently confessed he was consuming up to 18 bottles of beer and nine spirits shots a night.
In 1999 he was imprisoned for dealing drugs as he was convicted for supplying cocaine and cannabis.
He served six weeks of a nine-month sentence. Upon his release, he worked as a roofer, scaffolder and cabbie to make ends meet.
He claimed his drugs conviction effectively led to him being “blacklisted” which, he said, had a “detrimental impact on my mental health and my outlook, trust, paranoia”.
