John Alford found dead in prison cell

John Alford, a British actor who was convicted of sexually abusing teen girls, was found dead in a prison cell. He was 54.

“John Shannon died in prison on 13 March 2026. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate,” a Prison Service spokesman told the BBC in a statement Saturday. (Alford reverted to his birth name, John Shannon, after his acting career.)

A cause of death has not yet been released.

Alford played Robbie Wright in the BBC series “Grange Hill” from 1985 to 1990 and Billy Ray in the ITV series “London’s Burning” from 1993 to 1998.

In 1996, he had three Top 30 hits on the UK singles chart.

When Alford’s music and acting career dwindled, he began working as a roofer, scaffolder and mini-cab driver and then had several run-ins with the law.

In 1999, he was convicted of supplying drugs to undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood and had to spend nine months in prison.

Seven years later, Alford was convicted of DUI after crashing his car into three vehicles in April 2005. He was banned from driving for 16 months and was given a fine.

In 2018, Alford pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault on a police officer and guilty to a charge of criminal damage to a vehicle belonging to Camden Council.

The following year, the actor was given 12 months of community service after he pleaded guilty to two counts of resisting an officer.

In July 2024, Alford was charged with sexually assaulting two teenage girls two years prior.

Alfrod denied the claims in court, saying, “I haven’t done this. No DNA. I didn’t touch them. I think science proves me not guilty.” 

However, last September, he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl at a house in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. 

After being convicted, Alford reportedly shouted, “Wrong; I didn’t do this.” He was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison in January.