London’s Burning star to face trial accused of child sex offences

Former Grange Hill and London’s Burning actor John Alford is facing a trial charged with sex offences involving a girl aged under 16.

The 52-year-old is due to stand trial at St Albans Crown Court in December.

He is accused of four counts of sexual activity with a child, and two counts relating to a second female – of sexual assault and assault by penetration, the CPS said.

The actor, real name John Shannon, of Holloway, north London, was charged following an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary’s specialist Sexual Offences Investigation Team.

The offences were allegedly committed in April 2022.

The CPS said he denied all charges at a plea hearing in September last year.

His trial in December is expected to last for seven days.

The case is due back in court for a pre-trial review hearing in November.