Paedo London’s Burning star dies in jail weeks after being jailed

Paedo London’s Burning star John Alford has been found dead in prison weeks after being jailed for abusing two underage girls.

Alford was found unresponsive on his bed on Friday when staff opened his cell door at Category C HMP Bure in Norfolk. Prior to his death 54-year-old 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 convicted Alford of all charges after a week-long trial and over 13 hours of deliberations. Alford, who was charged under his real name John Shannon, put his head in his hand and shouted “wrong, I didn’t do this” from the dock as the guilty verdicts were read out in court.

Alford known for his appearance in the BBC school drama Grange Hill in the 1980s would go onto find his fame as Fireman Billy Ray in London’s Burning in the 1990s.

A source speaking to the Sun has elaborated on the unresponsive state Alford was found in and has said: “He didn’t wake up in the morning.”

The source added: “He was in his bed and they thought he was just asleep.”

“But when they tried to wake him there was no response and they realised he was dead.” Alford landed the role of rebel Robbie Wright on BBC’s Grange Hill when he was 13 years old.

During his time in the 80s BBC show Alford was part of the cast involved in its anti-drugs campaign. Despite this, at around the end of his appearance in Grange Hill Alford admitted he was drinking up to 18 bottles of beer and nine spirits shots a night.

Alford would go on to attract a new wave of viewers after appearing in London’s Burning as fireman Ray in from 1993 to 1998.

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