John Alford, who also appeared on Grange Hill, has been accused of targeting two girls aged under 16
Former London’s Burning star John Alford sexually abused two teenage girls at a party, a court heard.
The 53-year-old, who also appeared on Grange Hill, has been accused of targeting two girls aged under 16.
Alford – real name John Shannon – allegedly had sex with one of the girls in a garden and a toilet.
Jurors heard he also performed a sex act on another teen and was “in no doubt” both girls were underage.
Alford denies six charges – including two of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged under 16 and two of engaging in penetrative activity with a girl under 16.
The actor is also accused of assaulting a female aged 13 or over by penetration with part of body and sexual assault on a female.
St Albans Crown Court heard the alleged incidents took place on April 9, 2022.
Prosecutor Julie Whitby said dad-of-two Alford claims no sexual activity took place and that he told one of the girls “no”.
Opening his trial at St Albans Crown yesterday, prosecutors said Alford sexually assaulted both girls after visiting a property in Hertfordshire following a night-out at the pub.
All of the offences are alleged to have taken place at the home of a third girl, who was friends with the alleged victims, where there was “a bit of a party” taking place, the court heard.
“They were drinking, they were chatting, they were spending time with each other,” prosecutor Julie Whitby said.
The 14-year-old girl had unsuccessfully tried calling her mother and ordering an Uber to leave after other friends left the property at around 12.30am, jurors were told.
Alford, who is charged under his real name Shannon, had been at the pub with the third girl’s father, with both men arriving at the property at around 2am.
The alleged victims were left alone with the defendant after others at the property went to bed and he asked them how old they were.
“Mr Shannon was in no doubt that these two girls were both under 16,” Ms Whitby said.
“They just thought they were having an evening with a family friend.”
Alford then briefly left the property and went to a nearby petrol station and came back with a bottle of vodka.
He asked the 14-year-old girl to sit on his lap after going outside into the property’s garden for a cigarette, which the girl described as feeling “a bit strange”, the court heard.
Alford then allegedly started to kiss and touch her before having sexual intercourse with her.
“She didn’t say stop beforehand, but she didn’t want it to happen,” Ms Whitby said.
Later in the evening, Alford then had sex with the girl for a second time in a downstairs toilet in the property after pulling her onto him, jurors were told.
“He asked her ‘Do you want this babe?’ and she said, ‘no’,” Ms Whitby said.
It is also alleged that Alford then sexually assaulted a second 15-year-old girl.
Both girls did not say anything about the alleged assaults immediately after they happened as they had been drinking “a fair amount of vodka”, the prosecutor said.
Police received a third-party report from the 15-year-old girl’s mother on April 11 2022 outlining the allegations, jurors were told.
The defendant was then arrested the following day after both girls were interviewed.
In a statement provided to the force, Alford said one of the two girls “kept on trying to kiss me” and had told him she was 17-years-old.
He added: “At no point did I touch her in any sexual way whatsoever.”
Alford said the two alleged victims were “trying to extort money from him and they were trying to trick him”, but no material supporting these claims was found on either the girls’ or the defendant’s phones when searched, Ms Whitby said.
The trial had been listed to start in December last year but the court was previously told Alford had been admitted to hospital and was medically unwell.
Alford, of Holloway, north London, appeared in the dock wearing a white shirt and pair of headphones. His trial continues.
Alford first shot to fame as a teenager when he landed the role of Robbie Wright on Grange Hill.
The Glasgow-born star played the role in the seminal BBC show for five years.
He starred alongside Simone Hyams and George Christopher and took part in the anti-drugs single Just Say No.
Between 1993 and 1998, Alford appeared in long-running drama London’s Burning as Billy Ray.
He later had a role in the film Mike Bassett: England Manager, Casualty and Brit flick The Hatton Garden Job.
Alford also enjoyed a short-lived pop career – with three singles reaching the UK Top 30.
These included debut single Smoke In Your Eyes, followed by Blue Moon and Only You.
Away from the screen, Alford worked as a scaffolder and minicab driver.
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