Top Boy actor Micheal Ward found not guilty of rape

British actor Michael Ward was cleared of rape after a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court found him not guilty on all charges. The 28‑year‑old, who denied two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault, was acquitted on Friday. Ward met the complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at an east London nightclub on 2 January 2023. During the trial he told the court that everything that occurred was “wholly consensual.” He said he thought they were “having a great time” and described the woman as “very cute,” adding that he sensed “there was involvement there.” He invited her to join him in a car, where he said there was a “continuation of the flirting.” Ward recalled that she was “reciprocating the energy,” pulling him close, which he viewed as an inviting gesture that they both enjoyed. He noted that she never indicated a desire to leave and described her as “absolutely fine” with a “nice and engaging conversation.” After the encounter, the pair exchanged messages. Ward sent a smiling emoji accompanied by a heart, and the woman replied that he should enjoy the rest of his night. In court, the complainant gave a contrasting account. She said she would “never have got in that car with him” had she known what would happen. Addressing defence counsel Sallie Bennett‑Jenkins KC, she stated unequivocally, “Micheal raped me.” She explained that she “completely shut down” and did not utter the word “no” during the alleged incident. She testified that she repeatedly told Ward she needed to leave on several occasions. While travelling home with a friend, she ordered an STI kit and ticked the box asking whether she had been sexually assaulted. When Ward was arrested on 18 January 2023, he provided police with a prepared statement in which he said, “I deny the allegation of rape. I want to put on record that we had consensual foreplay and consensual sex.” Ward received the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2020 and later earned two nominations for his performances in the BBC’s Small Axe series and the 2022 film Empire of Light. He is best known for his roles in the film Blue Story and the Netflix series Top Boy.