Top Boy actor Micheal Ward has spoken out after a jury unanimously cleared him of rape and sexual assault charges, expressing compassion for victims of sexual violence and a desire to rebuild his life.
Verdict and Impact
The Bafta-winning star, 28, was found not guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against a woman on January 2, 2023. The jury at East London's Snaresbrook Crown Court took five hours and 25 minutes to reach a unanimous verdict.
Ward, who has been unable to work since the consensual sexual encounter in 2023, appeared emotional as his solicitor read a statement outside court. Humzah Ilyas of Hickman & Rose said: "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."
Statement and Acknowledgment
Ilyas added: "Micheal is thankful this process has now reached a conclusion. He looks forward to getting back to 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."
Ward stood quietly in the dock, holding his hand to his mouth, as the jury foreman announced each not guilty verdict. Supporters in the public gallery, packed with family and friends throughout the trial, held back tears. Ward then burst into tears and leaned heavily on his defence lawyer as she helped him out of the courtroom.
Defence and Character Witnesses
Ward denied assaulting the woman in the back of his friend's Mercedes, stating their encounter was consensual and they were "having a great time." He told the court they flirted, engaged in foreplay, had "passionate" kisses, and that an intimate act would not have happened if she did not want it. He described her as confident and "very cute," adding: "We had a mutual attraction with each other. We engaged in consensual sex, had a great time and she was actively participating in what we were doing all the time."
The court heard Ward comes from humble beginnings in east London and was raised in a female-led family after his father died in a car crash when he was two. He found fame with a breakout role in the critically acclaimed Top Boy drama series, won the Bafta rising star honour in 2020, and gained big-screen success alongside star names.
A string of character witnesses described Ward as "honest and trustworthy." Actress Jasmine Jobson, 31, who worked with him on Top Boy, said in a court statement that she believes his drive is to create a good life for his six-year-old daughter. She wrote: "The allegations are in stark contrast to the gentle and kind-hearted man I know."
Prosecution Case and Inconsistencies
The woman told the trial she felt "numb" and "scared," and that "I didn't really feel like I had a choice." Prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC argued Ward was "bent that night on having sex with her come what may." However, defence counsel Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC highlighted inconsistencies in the woman's account, noting it took 18 months from her original police interview before she reported deleting parts of messages with Ward. The KC said: "There are three, at the very least, significant areas where the woman can be demonstrated not to have told the truth. Is that a witness upon who you can rely? I suggest not."
The woman had Googled Ward before the party and sent pictures to a friend, admitted she finds him "attractive," and did not deny that what happened in the first car was consensual. Tests found no blood on her clothing despite her claims. Ward, of Silvertown, east London, met the woman outside an "all-white" party for around 250 people in Gants Hill. He said he was "shocked" when arrested at the airport returning from Italy, adding: "I knew that I had not done anything wrong and wanted to get to the bottom of it."
