London Jury Acquits Actor Micheal Ward on All Sexual Offence Charges

British actor Micheal Ward, best known for his starring role in the Netflix crime drama Top Boy, has been acquitted of all rape and sexual assault charges by a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London, bringing an end to a closely watched criminal trial.

The 28-year-old actor was found not guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault after jurors deliberated for just over five hours following a 10-day trial. The charges stemmed from allegations made by a woman relating to an incident in January 2023.

Throughout the proceedings, Ward consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that the sexual encounter had been consensual. During the trial, prosecutors alleged that the actor assaulted the complainant in the back of a friend’s Mercedes after the pair attended a New Year’s gathering in east London. The defence argued that the interaction was consensual and challenged aspects of the prosecution’s evidence.

As the unanimous verdicts were delivered, Ward became visibly emotional in court. According to reports, he broke down in tears after being cleared on all five charges before embracing members of his legal team and supporters.

In a statement issued after the verdict, Ward expressed gratitude to the jury, his legal representatives, family and friends for supporting him throughout the case. He also acknowledged the seriousness of sexual violence allegations, saying he hoped genuine victims would continue to be heard and supported. At the same time, he said he was looking forward to rebuilding both his personal life and acting career after what he described as a deeply difficult period.

Ward’s defence team said the criminal proceedings had effectively placed his career on hold for more than three years. His lawyer told reporters the actor was eager to return to the work he loves following the conclusion of the trial.

Born in Jamaica and raised in east London, Ward rose to prominence through performances in Blue Story, Small Axe, Empire of Light, The Book of Clarence and Eddington. In 2020, he won the British Academy Film Awards Rising Star Award and has since established himself as one of Britain’s most recognizable young actors.

The acquittal concludes one of the UK’s most high-profile entertainment industry court cases of the year. Legal experts noted that the verdict means Ward has been formally cleared of all criminal allegations brought against him in connection with the case.