John Alford, the actor who became a household name through his appearances in Grange Hill and London’s Burning, has died aged 54 in a Norfolk prison.
The former television star was found dead at HMP Bure on Friday, just two months after receiving an eight-and-a-half-year custodial sentence for sexually assaulting two teenage girls.
Alford, who was born John Shannon and used his birth name during legal proceedings, had been convicted of multiple offences against the victims, who were aged 14 and 15 at the time of the attacks.
The Prison Service confirmed his death to the BBC, stating: “John Shannon died in prison on 13 March 2026.
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John Alford became a household name through his appearances in Grange Hill and London’s Burning
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"As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”
The offences took place on April 9, 2022 at a property in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, where the girls had been attending a gathering at the home of a friend whose father knew Alford.
During his trial at St Albans Crown Court, jurors heard that the actor had purchased approximately £250 worth of food, alcohol and cigarettes from a petrol station in the early hours, including vodka, which the teenagers consumed.
Following a week-long trial and more than 13 hours of deliberations, the jury found him guilty on September 5 last year of four counts of sexual activity with the younger victim, as well as sexual assault and assault by penetration against the 15-year-old.
John Alford | PACrown Prosecution Service lawyer Chris White told the court: “John Shannon was fully aware of the girls’ ages, yet he chose to exploit them – giving them alcohol and then committing sexual offences against them.”
Prison staff discovered Alford unresponsive on his bed when they opened his cell door on Friday morning at the Category C facility near Norwich.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “He didn’t wake up in the morning. He was in his bed and they thought he was just asleep."
They continued: "But when they tried to wake him there was no response and they realised he was dead.”
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John Alford has previously denied the charges | PAMedical staff were called but were unable to revive him.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will now investigate the circumstances surrounding his death, as is standard procedure for deaths in custody.
Alford’s death was first reported by The Sun on Sunday before being confirmed by the Prison Service.
He first gained recognition during the 1980s playing rebellious pupil Robbie Wright in the BBC children’s series Grange Hill, having trained at the Anna Scher Theatre School alongside future EastEnders actors Sid Owen and Patsy Palmer.
His most prominent role came in 1993 when he joined ITV’s London’s Burning as firefighter Billy Ray, a part he held for five years until his dismissal following a drugs conviction.
In 1997, he was caught in a sting operation by News of the World journalist Mazher Mahmood, who posed as an Arabian prince and persuaded the actor to supply cocaine.
John Alford
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Alford later served six weeks of a nine-month prison sentence.
His latter career consisted largely of minor appearances in productions including Mike Bassett: England Manager, Casualty and The Hatton Garden Job.