British actor Micheal Ward was acquitted of rape and other charges Friday in a London court, stemming from allegations of sexual assault in 2023. Ward, 28, who is known for his role in the Netflix crime drama “Top Boy,” was found not guilty by a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court on two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault.
Ward has appeared in films such as “Blue Story,” “The Book of Clarence,” and the political satire “Eddington.” He received the Rising Star award at the British Academy Film Awards in 2020. He has also been nominated for BAFTA awards for his roles in Sam Mendes’ “Empire of Light” and the Steve McQueen-directed series “Small Axe.”
Ward had denied the charges and expressed confidence in his acquittal. His defense lawyer, Humzah Ilyas, stated that Ward is