Alford told police the girls were attempting to extort money from him, and claimed he was the victim of a “set-up”.
He began to cry as he told jurors: “I haven’t done this.
“No DNA. I didn’t touch them. I think science proves me not guilty.”
Alford had previous convictions – which included supplying drugs in 1999 when he was jailed for nine months – although none for sex offences.
He had told jurors he was “blacklisted” from acting roles, after he was lured to a hotel by News of the World journalist Mazher “Fake Sheikh” Mahmood, who was posing as an Arabian prince.
At sentencing, defence barrister Mohammed Bashir said: “The impact upon the girls has been great but it’s important to note that in that time Mr Shannon has not committed any further offences.”
The younger girl said in a statement, read at court on Wednesday, that being sexually assaulted had “affected me and my family in every way”.
In her impact statement, the older girl said “this man destroyed my mental wellbeing”.