Actor Denies Rape Allegations in Court
British actor Micheal Ward, known for his roles in Top Boy and Blue Story, has denied raping a woman in the back of a car, asserting to a jury that the encounter was consensual and that he believed they were "having a great time." Ward, aged 28, faces charges of raping the woman after meeting her at a nightclub in east London on 2 January 2023. He denies two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Ward appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London on Monday, where he described the interaction as involving a "quite flirty" conversation and "passionate" kisses, which evolved into a "developing situation." The Bafta-winning actor is recognized for his starring roles in the film Blue Story and the Netflix series Top Boy.
Alleged Victim's Testimony
The woman involved, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave evidence last week, breaking down as she told the jury she "did not understand the situation" she was in and that she "never would have got in that car with him" if she had been aware of the circumstances. Jurors were informed that she knew Ward from his film and television appearances and felt flattered when he requested her Snapchat handle.
She recalled that during the encounter she "did not use the word no" but "completely shut down," while also stating that she told Ward on "multiple occasions" that she needed to leave.
Ward's Account of the Encounter
On Monday, Ward told the court that the woman was an "active participant" throughout the encounter.
"Everything we did was wholly consensual and we were having a great time,"
he said when questioned by his lawyer Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC about his perception of the situation.
"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 alleged incident occurred during a New Year party hosted by Ward in Gants Hill, east London. He told the court he found the woman "very cute" upon seeing her outside the venue and noticed signs of interest from her through "eye contact and the way she was speaking." They engaged in a "very light" and "very cool" conversation, after which Ward invited her to join him in a car where the flirting continued.
"She was reciprocating the energy. She was pulling me close. For me, that was an inviting act and we were both enjoying that moment,"
Ward said, adding that she "never mentioned anything about wanting to leave."
Ward also stated that after the encounter, the woman appeared "absolutely fine" and they had a "nice and engaging general conversation." The court heard they later exchanged messages, with Ward sending her a smiling emoji with a heart, and the woman responding by wishing him to enjoy the rest of his night.
When asked if the woman showed any indication that she did not want what happened, Ward replied,
"No miss, if she did, we would not have done it."
Additional Testimonies and Evidence
During the trial last week, evidence was presented that the woman appeared upset when she entered a friend's car to go home following the alleged assault. The friend, also unnamed for legal reasons, testified that the woman's "demeanour was off" and that "she kept on crying" when asked about the events.
The court also heard that the alleged victim ordered a sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing kit while returning home and indicated on the form that she had been sexually assaulted.
Ward's Career Highlights
Micheal Ward was awarded the Bafta Rising Star Award in 2020 and has received nominations for his roles in the BBC's Small Axe and the 2022 film Empire of Light.
Related Coverage
For further details, see: Woman denies consensual encounter in Top Boy actor rape trial.
