The 54-year-old former star of Grange Hill and London's Burning was found dead at HMP Bure in Norfolk. Alford - whose real name was John Shannon - was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in jail after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting the two teenagers, who were 15 and 14. A Prison Service spokesman confirmed the death to the BBC and said in a statement: "John Shannon died in prison on 13 March 2026. A jury was told the star bought a bottle of vodka for the two teenager girls which they drank at a friend's house in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, in April 2022. He was found guilty on four counts of sexual activity with the younger girl, and of sexual assault and assault by penetration on the older teenager. He was jailed two months ago on 14 January as Recorder Caroline Overton said the offences had a "significant and ongoing impact" on his victims' lives.