‘Top Boy’ actor Micheal Ward cleared of rape, sexual assault charges after London trial

British actor Micheal Ward has been found not guilty of rape and sexual assault charges following a 10-day trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, bringing an end to a legal battle that had stalled the actor’s career for several years.

The 28-year-old BAFTA-winning actor broke down in tears in court after a jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on all five charges following about five hours of deliberation.

Ward, best known for his roles in the Netflix crime drama “Top Boy,” Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” anthology, and the film “Blue Story,” had been accused of two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault linked to an alleged incident on New Year’s Day in 2023.

Prosecutors told the court that the alleged incident occurred after Ward met a woman at a party in Ilford, East London, before they later moved to an after-party in Stratford.

The complainant alleged that the assaults took place inside a Mercedes vehicle and told the court she felt intimidated because of Ward’s public profile. She also explained that she delayed reporting the matter because she initially blamed herself.

Ward denied all allegations throughout the trial, maintaining that the encounter was consensual. Giving evidence in his defense, the actor described their interaction as “friendly and flirty” and said the woman had willingly participated.

His legal team argued that elements of the prosecution’s case were contradicted by forensic evidence. The defense pointed to examinations of clothing belonging to the complainant, which found no traces of blood despite claims that she had been left injured.

The allegations, which dated back more than three years, had significantly affected Ward’s professional career as the case remained unresolved.

During the trial, his “Top Boy” co-star Jasmine Jobson appeared as a character witness in his defense, describing him as a kind and respectful person. She told the court that the legal proceedings had placed his acting career on hold.

Following the verdict, Ward’s solicitor, Humzah Ilyas, said the actor was relieved that the case had reached a conclusion and was looking forward to returning to his work.

“Micheal is thankful this process has now reached a conclusion. He looks forward to getting back to doing work he loves and focusing on the future,” Ilyas said.

Ward, who moved to the United Kingdom from Jamaica as a child, gained international recognition after his breakthrough performance in the 2019 film “Blue Story.”

He later won the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2020 and received further critical acclaim for his role alongside Olivia Colman in Sam Mendes’ “Empire of Light.”

The acquittal clears the way for the actor to resume his career after years of legal uncertainty.