Bafta-winning actor Micheal Ward, known for his role in the Netflix series "Top Boy," is accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman in the back of a car following an "all white" party on New Year's Day 2023. Ward denies all charges.
Prosecutors at Snaresbrook Crown Court argued during closing speeches that Ward, 28, was "intent on his own pleasure" and disregarded the woman's consent. The prosecution, led by Taylor Ayling KC, suggested Ward was "only interested in his own gratification and was controlling and thoughtless of her feelings and, more importantly, ignored whether she was consenting or not." The prosecutor further stated that the encounter was "quick sex in the back of the car because he fancied it that night," emphasizing that there was no evidence of consent and describing the encounter as "risky and aggressive."
Micheal Ward, of Silvertown, London, faces two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault. The alleged incidents occurred in Newham, east London. The court heard that the woman claims she was assaulted after kissing and hugging Ward in the car outside the party, prior to an intimate encounter in another Mercedes outside an after-party event.
The defense, represented by Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, has challenged the complainant's credibility, describing her as inconsistent and stating she "told a series of lies that go to the heart of this matter." The defense noted that the woman claimed to have blood on her clothing, but forensic tests found none, and that she varied in her accounts of whether the pair had flirted beforehand. The defense argued that "two young people who are attracted to each other engaged in physical contact when Micheal Ward at all times believed to be consensual."
Judge Rosa Dean instructed the jury to determine if consent was present during the sexual encounter in the car, also directing them to consider whether there was a reasonable belief of consent. The prosecution maintains Ward "did not care less" about consent, while the defense asserts that "all her actions suggest she was consenting."
Ward was arrested on January 18, 2023, and initially stated to police in a prepared statement that he denied the allegation, asserting that "we had consensual foreplay and consensual sex." He was formally charged on July 25, 2025.
Ward rose to prominence for his role in the 2019 film "Blue Story" and subsequently gained wider recognition for his portrayal of Jamie in the Netflix revival of "Top Boy." His career includes roles in Steve McQueen's "Small Axe" anthology, the film "Empire of Light" opposite Olivia Colman, and the Netflix drama "The Beautiful Game."