Pubdate: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 Source: Daily Telegraph (UK) Copyright: of Telegraph Group Limited 1999 Contact: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ Author: David Millward TV ACTOR 'TRICKED INTO SUPPLYING DRUGS BY BOGUS ARAB PRINCE' A former star of the television series London's Burning supplied cocaine and cannabis to a bogus Middle Eastern prince, a court was told. John Alford was so convinced by the flowing robes, accented English and deferential entourage that he bowed to his royal acquaintance. But "Sheikh Mohammad al-Kareem" was Mazher Mahmood, an undercover reporter with the News of the World, Martin Hicks, prosecuting, told Snaresbrook Crown Court. Lengthy video footage, secretly shot in a suite at London's Savoy Hotel, showed the actor speaking at length about drugs. The actor lost his UKP50,000-a-year job playing a fireman in the LWT series as a result of the expose. Alford, 27, of Hadley Wood, Herts, who is representing himself, denies one charge of supplying 2.037 grams of cocaine and 11.9 grams of cannabis resin to Mazher Mahmood in August 1997. Charged under his real name, John Shannon, Alford also pleads not guilty to offering to supply a further delivery of cocaine to Mr Mahmood. Alford appeared to have a promising future until he fell for the elaborate subterfuge, Mr Hicks said. The actor's downfall started with a call to his agent about the possibility of him joining a celebrity line-up at a nightclub "the sheikh" owned in Dubai. As a result Alford attended a meeting at the Savoy Hotel, which was set up by the News of the World. Days later he learnt that he had been fooled by the newspaper, which had allegedly been tipped off by one of his showbusiness acquaintances that he was supplying drugs at parties. The jury was shown a video of Alford being whisked from his home to the Savoy, the warm handshakes on his arrival and his bowing to the Arab prince. During the conversation about the club, Alford was told he would be joined at the opening by Sir Elton John and Sylvester Stallone. Finally the subject of drugs was brought up. For several minutes Alford appeared to display an in-depth knowledge about them, observing that cocaine which made your nose run was "no good", but that "numb gums" indicated acceptable quality. Adding that he had given up cocaine two years previously, Alford mentioned that he still "liked smoking grass". Then, on being asked if he could supply cocaine, after some hesitation he agreed, saying: "OK, I will do it. No problem," he said. "You have got to be so careful. If anyone gets hold of it you are ruined, especially in my business." The court heard that Alford agree to supply an ounce of cocaine for 60 guests attending a party the "sheik" was planning to throw the following week. Borrowing his mobile phone, Alford called a dealer saying that he wanted a couple of "tickets" - grams - of cocaine, adding that he did not want any "toilet" - rubbish. Then, the court heard, the actor was given UKP300 and driven to addresses in Islington and St John's Wood to get both cannabis and the Class A drug. In another video Alford was filmed returning with three wraps of cocaine and a slab of cannabis resin which he tested by rolling a reefer for himself. Alford accused Mr Mahmood of lying, saying the journalist had sold his soul to the Devil. "A story about a celebrity drug user, tricked into accommodating an Arab sheikh with drugs in order to get a job, is not front-page news. If you gild the lily,create a few quotes, then you have an expose," he said. "Don't let the facts spoil a good story. That is in fact what happened." Mr Mahmood denied the actor's accusation, defending his methods as "legitimate subterfuge" within the Press Complaints Commission guidelines. The actor, he said during further cross-examination, had offered him drugs no fewer than 10 times. "I didn't destroy your life," Mr Mahmood told Alford, "You destroyed your own life... . you could have said no." The case continues. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D