{"id":3212,"date":"2026-07-10T20:41:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T15:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=3212"},"modified":"2026-07-10T20:41:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T15:41:37","slug":"bafta-winning-actor-micheal-ward-28-has-been-found-not-guilty-of-rape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=3212","title":{"rendered":"Bafta-winning actor Micheal Ward, 28, has been found not guilty of rape"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_257011965-6e7f.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29104729\" alt=\"LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 26: Micheal Ward attends the Los Angeles premiere of A24's &quot;Eddington&quot; at DGA Theater Complex on June 26, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre\/WireImage)\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Michael Ward denied the allegations throughout the trial, maintaining the encounter was consensual. (Picture: Emma McIntyre\/WireImage)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/07\/top-boy-actor-denies-bent-on-getting-way-alleged-rape-victim-29076345\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/07\/top-boy-actor-denies-bent-on-getting-way-alleged-rape-victim-29076345\/\">Bafta-winning actor Michael Ward<\/a> has been found not guilty of rape and sexual assault after a jury unanimously cleared him following a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.<\/p>\n<p>The 28-year-old <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/top-boy\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\">Top Boy<\/a> star had denied two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault relating to an encounter with a woman after a New Year\u2019s party in east London in January 2023.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, jurors returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on all five charges after deliberating for five hours and 25 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Ward stood quietly in the dock with his hand covering his mouth as each verdict was read aloud before breaking down in tears. <\/p>\n<p>He then leaned on his defence barrister as he left the courtroom, while members of his family and friends in the public gallery became emotional.<\/p>\n<p>The prosecution alleged Ward sexually assaulted the woman in the back of a Mercedes after the pair met outside an \u201call-white\u201d New Year\u2019s party in Gants Hill on January 2, 2023.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_263602363-44ae.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28986054\" alt=\"Mandatory Credit: Photo by Victoria Jones\/Shutterstock (15459923t) Micheal Ward arrives at Thames Magistrates Court Micheal Ward court case, Thames Magistrates Court charged with rape, London, UK - 28 Aug 2025 Bafta-winning actor Micheal Ward, known for roles in shows and films including Top Boy, Small Axe and Blue Story, has been charged with rape. Mr Ward, 27, of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, is charged with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault, the Metropolitan Police said. Mr Ward said: \" i=\"\" deny=\"\" the=\"\" charges=\"\" against=\"\" me=\"\" entirely=\"\" and=\"\" added=\"\" that=\"\" he=\"\" had=\"\" co-operated=\"\" with=\"\" police=\"\" fully=\"\" throughout=\"\" their=\"\" investigation=\"\" full=\"\" faith=\"\" it=\"\" would=\"\" lead=\"\" to=\"\" his=\"\" name=\"\" being=\"\" cleared.=\"\" alleged=\"\" offences=\"\" relate=\"\" one=\"\" woman=\"\" are=\"\" reported=\"\" have=\"\" taken=\"\" place=\"\" in=\"\" january=\"\" according=\"\" force.=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Ward told jurors he had been \u2018shocked\u2019 when he was arrested on returning to the UK from Italy (Picture: Victoria Jones\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ward denied the allegations throughout the trial, maintaining the encounter was consensual.<\/p>\n<p>Giving evidence in his own defence, the actor told jurors the pair had flirted throughout the evening before exchanging Snapchat details and later meeting outside the venue.<\/p>\n<p>He said they kissed, hugged and engaged in consensual sexual activity, describing the encounter as one in which they were \u2018having a great time\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I really feel that she wanted to be there,\u2019 Ward told the court. \u2018She never mentioned anything about wanting to leave.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>He also said he believed there was a \u2018mutual attraction\u2019 between them and that the intimate encounter would not have happened had she not wanted it.<\/p>\n<p>The prosecution argued Ward had been determined to have sex with the woman regardless of her wishes and suggested she had no reason to falsely report rape.<\/p>\n<p>Jurors also heard evidence from the woman\u2019s friends, who described her as appearing distressed after returning to their car following the incident.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_303386199-d305.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28971714\" alt=\"No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Harris\/Netflix\/Everett\/Shutterstock (14378060i) TOP BOY, Micheal Ward,'Smoke Gets in Your Hands', (Season 3, ep. 305, aired Sept. 13, 2019). photo: Chris Harris \/ ?Netflix \/ courtesy Everett Collection Top Boy - 13 Sep 2019\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Ward is known for his role in Top Boy (Picture: Netflix\/Everett\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The defence, meanwhile, challenged the reliability of the complainant\u2019s account.<\/p>\n<p>Ward\u2019s barrister, Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, argued there were significant inconsistencies in her evidence and said she had not been truthful about key aspects of the case.<\/p>\n<p>The court heard that deleted messages between the complainant and Ward only came to light around 18 months after her initial police interview, while the defence also challenged other parts of her evidence, including her account of events before and after the encounter.<\/p>\n<p>Ward told jurors he had been \u2018shocked\u2019 when he was arrested on returning to the UK from Italy, adding that he knew he \u2018had not done anything wrong\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>The actor, who grew up in east London after his father died when he was two years old, rose to prominence through Top Boy before winning the Bafta Rising Star Award in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, he has become one of Britain\u2019s most successful young actors, appearing in films including Empire of Light and Eddington. Following the unanimous verdicts, Ward was acquitted of all charges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/06\/30\/top-boy-actor-micheal-ward-overpowered-rape-victim-tried-leave-car-28985081\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">Top Boy actor Micheal Ward \u2018overpowered\u2019 rape victim after she tried to leave car<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/06\/29\/top-boy-actor-micheal-ward-raped-woman-back-car-party-28967589\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">Top Boy actor Micheal Ward \u2018raped woman in back of car after party\u2019<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\"><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-comments\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" class=\"metro-button share-bar-preferred-source\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card accent--tv\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card__inner\">\n<h4>TV Newsletter<\/h4>\n<p>Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Michael Ward denied the allegations throughout the trial, maintaining the encounter was consensual. (Picture: Emma McIntyre\/WireImage) Bafta-winning actor Michael Ward has been found not guilty of rape and sexual assault after a jury unanimously cleared him following a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court. The 28-year-old Top Boy star had denied two counts of rape, two&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_257011965-6e7f_1783697464.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1200&h=630&crop=1","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3212\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}