Scots London's Burning actor accused of sexually assaulting two teen girls

[Artaxerxes II]

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scot ... r-35796639

A Glasgow-born actor sexually abused two teenagers at a party, a court has heard.
John Alford, 53, known for appearing in Grange Hill and London's Burning, has been accused of targeting the girls, both aged under 16.
A jury was told Alford - charged under his real name John Shannon - had sex with one girl in a garden and a toilet and performed a sex act on the other, and was "in no doubt" both were underage.
The actor denies six charges, including two of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a person aged under 16, and two engaging in penetrative activity with a person under 16.
He has also been accused of assaulting a girl aged 13 or over by penetration with part of body and sexual assault on a female, the Mirror reports.
St Albans Crown Court heard the alleged incidents occurred on April 9, 2022.

Julie Whitby, prosecuting, said the dad-of-two claims no sexual activity took place and he told one of the teens "no".
The prosecution added he is said to have assaulted both girls after visiting a property in Hertfordshire, the home of a third girl who was a friend of the alleged victims.
Ms Whitby said there was "a bit of a party" taking place, explaining: "They were drinking, they were chatting, they were spending time with each other."

The 14-year-old girl had tried unsuccessfully to contact her mum, and had called for an Uber to take her home after others left the property at around 12.30am.
Alford then arrived with the third girl's dad at around 2am, and was left with the alleged victims after others went to bed, asking them how old they were.
Ms Whitby said: "Mr Shannon was in no doubt that these two girls were both under 16. They just thought they were having an evening with a family friend."
He then left the property to visit a petrol station, returning with a bottle of vodka. He asked the 14-year-old to sit on his lap after going outside to smoke, which she described as feeling "a bit strange".
He is said to have started kissing and touching her before having sexual intercourse with her. Ms Whitby said: "She didn't say stop beforehand, but she didn't want it to happen."
He allegedly had sex with her for a second time in a downstairs bathroom after pulling her onto him. Ms Whitby added: "He asked her 'Do you want this babe?' and she said, 'no'."
It is also alleged that Alford went on to sexually assault a 15-year-old girl. Both kept quiet about the alleged incidents immediately afterwards as they had been drinking "a fair amount of vodka", the prosecution said.

Police later received a third-party report from the mother of the 15-year-old on April 11, 2022, the jury was told.
Alford was arrested the next day after officers interviewed both girls. In a statement provided to police, he said one of them "kept on trying to kiss me" and had told him she was 17.
He added: "At no point did I touch her in any sexual way whatsoever."
He claimed the two alleged victims were "trying to extort money from him and they were trying to trick him", but no evidence to support this was found on either his phone or the girls' phones when examined.
The trial was originally due to begin in December 2024, but the court was told Alford was unwell and had been admitted to hospital.
Alford appeared for his rescheduled trial wearing a white shirt and a pair of headphones. The trial continues.
He found fame as a teenager playing Robbie Wright in the BBC's Grange Hill for five years. Between 1993 and 1998, he joined long-running series London's Burning as Billy Ray.
Later roles included Casualty and films Mike Bassett: England Manager, and The Hatton Garden Job.
He also had a short-lived music career, with three singles making the UK Top 30.

[Jim Burton]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/3 ... ung-girls/