Michael Ward, a talented actor known for his roles in 'Top Boy' and 'Small Axe', has been acquitted of all charges relating to rape and sexual assault. A 10-day trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court concluded with unanimous not guilty verdicts on two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against the 28-year-old.
The allegations stem from an encounter with a woman who met Ward at a New Year’s Day party in Ilford, east London, in 2023. Following the party, they separately attended an after-party in Stratford before, according to prosecutors, Ward allegedly sexually assaulted and raped her in his Mercedes after she got into the vehicle. The complainant reported feeling intimidated by Ward's fame, which delayed reporting the incident to the police.
During testimony, the woman described experiencing pain and believed there was blood on her clothing following the alleged assault. In contrast, Ward consistently denied the accusations, stating that their interactions were "friendly and flirty" and that she had been a willing participant in all activities. He maintained that there was mutual interest between them.
The prosecution's account was challenged by forensic evidence presented during the trial. Examinations of the complainant’s clothing found no blood, contradicting her earlier statements. Ward denied rape when questioned by police and stated that any sexual activity had been consensual in a prepared statement.
Ward's defence team highlighted inconsistencies in the prosecution case, which was further scrutinised through evidence from his 'Top Boy' co-star, Jasmine Jobson. She described him as a "kind-hearted man" and expressed her shock at learning of the allegations, stating that they had effectively halted Ward’s acting career for over three years.
Proceedings were briefly disrupted when social media influencer Murad Merali was removed from court for posting videos online about evidence during an ongoing trial. Judge Dean ordered Merali to remove his videos and leave, with the Attorney General considering whether they constituted contempt of court. The public gallery was cleared at points to ensure jurors were not influenced by the online material.