In 2026, the Offender Database reported that John Shannon, then 54, also known as the actor John Alford, of Hartham Road, Islington, London, was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison at St Albans Crown Court. Shannon, once a well-known television star in London’s Burning and Grange Hill, was convicted of a “serious” and “vile” campaign of sexual abuse against two teenage girls. The investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary revealed that the “horrific” assaults took place at a property in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, in April 2022.
The court heard horrendous details of the “vicious” abuse, which occurred while the victims, aged 14 and 15, were at a sleepover. Shannon, a “trusted family friend,” arrived at the house intoxicated and proceeded to ply the girls with alcohol he had purchased. He then “vilely” lured the 14-year-old into sexual intercourse in the garden and a downstairs toilet, and sexually assaulted the 15-year-old while she was falling asleep on a sofa. The prosecution emphasised that Shannon showed a deplorable lack of remorse, claiming the allegations were a “blackmail plot” despite the “serious” trauma he inflicted.
During the sentencing on 14 January 2026, Judge Recorder Caroline Overington emphasised that the girls were in what should have been a “safe environment” and that Shannon’s behaviour represented a “serious” breach of trust. One of the victims reported in a “brave” impact statement that the assault had “destroyed her mental wellbeing” and led to a suicide attempt. Hertfordshire Constabulary noted that Shannon’s refusal to acknowledge his crimes throughout the complex investigation and trial highlighted his “vicious” and “predatory” nature.
As a result of his convictions for penetrative sexual activity with a child and sexual assault, John Shannon was jailed for eight years and six months. He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and a Restraining Order. He is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by both Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Metropolitan Police Service, ensuring his behaviour is strictly monitored. Any further “vile” actions or attempts to contact children in Hoddesdon, Islington, or elsewhere will result in his immediate arrest and return to prison.
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