Actor John Alford Dies in Prison After Conviction

0:00On March 14th, former actor John Alfred, best known for roles in Grange Hill and London's burning, has died in prison at age 54. He was serving in eight-and-a-half-year sentence after his conviction in January for sexually abusing two teenage girls at a house party. The offenses involved a 14-year-old and her 15-year-old friend, whom Alfred took advantage of early one morning when he was the only adult, left at the Hartfordshire home. A jury found him guilty on all six charges following a trial at St. Alvin's Crown Court. Alfred, whose real name was John Shannon, starred as a schoolboy in the 1980s BBC series Grange Hill and later as firefighter Billy Ray N. The 1990s ITB show, London's Burning. He had a prior conviction for supplying drugs and had worked as a taxi driver and scaffolder in recent years. Prison staff discovered him unresponsive on his bed when they opened his cell door last Friday. He passed away on March 13th, 2026, according to officials.

1:02An investigation by the prison's improvisation on Budsman is now underway as a standard for deaths in custody with more details expected soon.