Award-winning actor Micheal Ward has appeared in a London court after being accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman he met at a nightclub in 2023.
The 28-year-old actor, best known for his roles in Top Boy and Blue Story, denies all five charges against him. The allegations include two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Woman Tells Court She Felt ‘Scared’ During Alleged Incident
During the opening day of the trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, jurors heard a police interview from the woman who made the allegations. She said she felt “numb” and “scared” during the alleged incident and remembered wanting the situation to end.
According to prosecutors, the woman met Ward at a party in a north-east London nightclub. She knew he was a well-known actor and felt flattered when he asked for her Snapchat details.
The pair later went to a friend’s Mercedes, where they kissed. The woman admitted that she consented to some intimate touching at that stage.
However, prosecutors claim the situation changed later that night.
Alleged Assault Took Place Near an Afterparty
The court heard that Ward invited the woman and her friends to an afterparty at another location. Prosecutors allege that he raped and sexually assaulted the woman inside a car parked near the second party.
In her police statement, the woman claimed she tried to leave the vehicle but was told to shut the door.
She described feeling frightened and said she did not want the encounter to continue.
Micheal Ward Denies All Charges
After his arrest, Ward strongly denied the allegations.
In a statement to police, he said: “I deny the allegation of rape. We had consensual foreplay and consensual sex.”
The actor appeared in court wearing a blue shirt and burgundy tie as the trial began.
Award-Winning Career
Ward was born in Jamaica and later moved to London. He rose to fame through his role as gang leader Jamie in the hit crime drama Top Boy. He also starred as Marco in Blue Story, a film that explores gang rivalry in south London.
In 2020, he won the BAFTA Rising Star Award, becoming one of Britain’s most promising young actors.
The trial continues, and the court has not yet reached a verdict. Under UK law, Micheal Ward remains innocent unless proven guilty in court.
