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British actor Micheal Ward broke down in tears at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday after a jury found him not guilty on all charges, ending a rape trial that had overshadowed the Top Boy star’s career for more than three years.
Jurors reached unanimous verdicts after deliberating for five hours and 25 minutes. Ward, 28, stood silently in the dock with his hand over his mouth as each verdict was delivered before becoming visibly emotional.
The actor, best known for playing gang leader Jamie in Netflix’s Top Boy and for his role in Blue Story, had denied two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
The charges stemmed from an encounter with a woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, after they met at an east London nightclub on 2 January 2023. The pair had first crossed paths outside an “all-white” New Year’s party in Gants Hill.
Giving evidence, Ward told jurors he believed there was mutual attraction from the moment they met.
“I thought she was very cute,” he said. “There was interest there.”
He said he invited her into a car, where the flirting continued.
“She was reciprocating the energy. She was pulling me close. For me, that was an inviting act and we were both enjoying that moment,” he told the court.
Ward said the woman never indicated she wanted to leave and described their conversation as relaxed and engaging. He added that she appeared “absolutely fine” throughout the encounter. Afterward, they exchanged messages, with Ward sending a smiling face with a heart emoji and the woman replying that he should enjoy the rest of his night.
The complainant gave a very different account. Fighting back tears, she told the court she “completely shut down” during the alleged assault and did not say the word “no.” She insisted she repeatedly told Ward she needed to leave.
Asked by defence barrister Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC whether the encounter had been consensual, she replied: “Micheal raped me.”
She also told the court she would “never would have got in that car with him” if she had known what would happen. On the journey home with a friend, she ordered an STI testing kit and indicated she had been sexually assaulted.
The defence argued her account contained significant inconsistencies. Bennett-Jenkins said the complainant had not been truthful about key parts of her evidence and pointed to deleted messages between the pair that surfaced about 18 months after her first police interview.
After his arrest on 18 January 2023, Ward told police in a prepared statement: “I deny the allegation of rape. I want to put on record that we had consensual foreplay and consensual sex.”
He later told jurors he was “shocked” by his arrest after returning from Italy because he believed he “had not done anything wrong.”
Several character witnesses also spoke in his defence. Top Boy co-star Jasmine Jobson, whose statement was read in court, described Ward as “lovely, polite and outgoing” as well as “intelligent, hardworking and popular.” She said his determination to succeed was driven by his desire to build a better life for his young daughter.
The case placed Ward’s career on hold. He won the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2020 and later received further nominations for his performances in the BBC’s Small Axe and Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light. More recently, he appeared alongside Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone and Austin Butler in Ari Aster’s Eddington.
Speaking outside court, Ward’s solicitor, Humzah Ilyas, said the case had taken a heavy personal and professional toll.
“It has been three and a half years since the police started investigating this matter, during which time Micheal’s life, as well as his successful career, has been put on hold. This has, inevitably, had a profound impact on him and those closest to him.
“Micheal is thankful this process has now reached a conclusion. He looks forward to getting back to doing the work he loves and focusing on the future.
“As he starts to rebuild his life, Micheal would like to acknowledge those who have experienced sexual violence and abuse. They deserve to be heard, treated with compassion, and have their allegations taken seriously. Micheal would like to thank God and his family. He is very appreciative of everyone who stood by him. Their support, prayers and love helped carry him.”
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah
