Actor Micheal Ward Found Not Guilty of Rape
British actor Micheal Ward has been acquitted of rape and sexual assault charges following a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court. The 28-year-old actor was charged with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault but was found not guilty on all counts by the jury on Friday.
Ward met the complainant, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, at an east London nightclub on 2 January 2023. The Bafta-winning actor, known for his roles in the film Blue Story and the Netflix series Top Boy, maintained that the encounter was consensual.
"Everything we did was wholly consensual," Ward stated during the trial.
Ward told the jury that he believed they were "having a great time" during their interaction. The court heard that upon meeting the woman, Ward found her "very cute" and sensed mutual interest.
"She was reciprocating the energy. She was pulling me close. For me, that was an inviting act and we were both enjoying that moment," Ward said, describing the continuation of their interaction in a car after the nightclub. He added that she "never mentioned anything about wanting to leave" and appeared "absolutely fine" while engaging in a "nice and engaging general conversation."
Following the encounter, they exchanged messages, with Ward sending a smiling emoji with a heart, and the woman responding by wishing him to enjoy the rest of his night.
Complainant’s Account
In contrast, the complainant gave a different testimony in court, becoming emotional as she recounted her experience. She stated that had she known what would happen, she "never would have got in that car with him."
"Micheal raped me," she told Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, defending Ward, denying that the encounter was consensual.
The woman described herself as having "completely shut down" during the alleged attack and said she did not explicitly say the word "no." She testified that she repeatedly told Ward she needed to leave on multiple occasions.
After the incident, while returning home with a friend, she ordered a sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing kit and indicated on the form that she had been sexually assaulted.
Ward’s Statement and Career Highlights
Ward was arrested on 18 January 2023 and provided a prepared statement to the police in which he denied the rape allegation.
"I deny the allegation of rape. I want to put on record that we had consensual foreplay and consensual sex," he said.
Micheal Ward received the Bafta Rising Star Award in 2020 and has been nominated twice for his performances in the BBC's Small Axe and the 2022 film Empire of Light. He is widely recognized for his portrayal of gang leader Jamie in Top Boy.
Top Boy actor tells rape trial that encounter was consensual
