DISGRACED actor John Alford’s cause of death has been revealed after he died just weeks after being caged for sexually abusing two young girls.
Alford, 54, made his mark on BBC school drama Grange Hill in the 1980s and found fame as fireman Billy Ray in London’s Burning in the 1990s before his fall from grace and final end.
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Paedophile TV star John Alford was found dead in jail in March Credit: PA
Alford found fame as fireman Billy Ray in London’s Burning in the 1990s Credit: ITV
The provisional cause of death for Alford has now been publicly recorded as ischaemic heart disease, following an inquest opening.
It means that the convicted paedophile suffered either a heart attack, a fatal arrhythmia or sudden cardiac death.
The disease stops the heart getting enough oxygen rich blood because the arteries have become narrowed or blocked.
Alford had been sentenced in January to eight years and six months in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting two teenage girls.
The disgraced actor died less than three months into the sentence on March 13 this year.
Alford had hit the skids in 1999 when he was locked up for dealing drugs and was just weeks into an eight-and-a-half year sentence for his assaults on the girls when his body was found.
He was unresponsive on his bed when staff opened his cell door in March at Category C HMP Bure near Norwich and medics were called.
Glasgow-born Alford got his big break after training at The Anna Scher Theatre stage school in North London alongside EastEnders stars Sid Owen and Patsy Palmer.
Alford – pictured here leaving jail in 1999 – had been caged for sexually abusing two young girls Credit: PA:Press Association
Alford hit the skids in 1999 when he was locked up for dealing drugs Credit: PA
He landed the role of rebel Robbie Wright on BBC’s Grange Hill when he was 13, starring alongside Simone Hyams and George Christopher.
Up to eight million watched the show and Alford was part of the cast involved in its anti-drugs campaign, singing with others in its widely-played single “Just Say No”.
Towards the end of his Grange Hill stint, Alford later admitted he was drinking up to 18 bottles of beer and nine spirits shots a night.
He earned a new army of fans as fireman Ray in London’s Burning from 1993 to 1998.
