Actor John Alford is facing a trial after he was charged with sex offences involving a girl aged under 16.
The 52-year-old who rose to fame on Grange Hill is charged under his real name John Shannon. He is due to stand trial at St Albans Crown Court from December 2 this year, with a time estimate of seven days.
Alford is accused of four counts of sexual activity with a child. He is also charged with sexual assault and assault by penetration relating to a second female, the CPS said. He denied all charges at a plea hearing in September last year.
Alford, of Holloway, north London, is due back at St Albans Crown Court for a pre-trial review hearing on November 18.
After leaving Grange Hill, Alford was fireman Billy Ray in ITV drama London’s Burning from 1993 to 1998. Alford went on to work as a scaffolder and minicab driver. He also had a short-lived musical career.
In 1996 he had three singles in the UK Top 30 with debut song Smoke In Your Eyes reaching 13 and led to him performing on Top Of The Pops.
He released two more songs. Blue Moon/Only You reached number nine in the charts.
In 2001 he had a minor role in the cult classic film Mike Bassett: England Manager before a smattering of other minor roles in TV shows, including Casualty.
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