London’s Burning star John Alford found dead in prison cell

John Alford, who starred in London's Burning, was discovered unresponsive on his bed by staff at HMP Bure in Norfolk on Friday. Photo / Getty Images

John Alford, the London’s Burning actor, has been found dead in his prison cell.

The 54-year-old star, who was recently convicted of sexually assaulting two girls aged under 16, was discovered unresponsive on his bed by staff at HMP Bure, a Category C prison in Norfolk on Friday.

He had been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years’ jail for the offence.

A source told the Sun on Sunday: “He didn’t wake up in the morning.”

“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.”

The actor, who also starred in the BBC programme Grange Hill and trained at the Anna Scher Theatre stage school in North London alongside EastEnders stars Sid Owen and Patsy Palmer, became known for taking on the role of the fireman Billy Ray in ITV’s London’s Burning.

He was sacked from London’s Burning after he was convicted for supplying cocaine and cannabis and served six weeks of a nine-month sentence in 1999.

Alford, whose real name was John Shannon, returned to acting during 2001 in Mike Bassett: England Manager and went on to appear in Trust Me: I’m A Beauty Therapist before starring in minor roles in the BBC programme Casualty and the film The Hatton Garden Job.

During 2006, Alford was caught drink-driving and was arrested for resisting a police officer while sitting in a Camden Council bin lorry in September 2018. He later admitted criminal damage.

In April 2022, the actor was reported to officers for abusing two girls, aged 14 and 15, at Hoddesden, Herts.

Alford was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with the 14-year-old and sexual assault and assault by penetration involving the older girl.

A prison service spokesman said: “John Shannon died in prison on March 13, 2026.”

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