Trial of Former Actor John Alford Postponed Due to Mental Health Act Detention

The legal proceedings against John Alford, known for his role in London’s Burning, concerning charges of child sex offences, have been put on hold. This postponement is a result of his impending detention under the Mental Health Act. Mr. Alford faces accusations comprising four counts of sexual activity with a child under the age of 16, alongside two additional counts involving a second female, specifically sexual assault and assault by penetration. These charges stem from an investigation conducted by Hertfordshire Police. The 53-year-old, residing in Holloway, north London, initially gained recognition for portraying Robbie Wright in the series Grange Hill. The defendant was scheduled to appear at St Albans Crown Court on Monday. However, on Wednesday, a clinician informed the court that Alford, whose charges are filed under his legal name John Shannon, was unwell and hospitalized, awaiting the availability of a psychiatric bed. A consultant in liaison psychiatry conveyed to Judge Bilal Siddique that two medical recommendations had been issued under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act. Dr. Kirsty Allen stated: “At the moment he’s not technically detained because you’ve got to have a bed before you can be detained somewhere.” An additional preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Friday at the same court. The alleged offences reportedly took place in April 2022. Mr. Alford entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an earlier hearing. For updates on news from Beds, Herts, and Bucks, follow on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.