British actor Michael Ward has been found not guilty of rape and sexual assault charges by a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London.
Ward, 28, had been accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman after they met outside a New Year’s party in east London in January 2023. He denied all allegations, insisting throughout the trial that the encounter was consensual.
The actor faced two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault. On Friday, the jury unanimously acquitted him on all charges after deliberating for five hours and 25 minutes following a two-week trial.
Ward became visibly emotional as the verdicts were delivered, breaking down in tears as he was cleared of all charges. Family members and friends in the public gallery also reacted with relief, while his defence lawyer later escorted him out of the courtroom.
During the trial, Ward told the court that he believed he and the complainant shared a mutual attraction and that every aspect of their sexual encounter was consensual.
Speaking after the verdict, Ward’s solicitor, Humzah Ilyas, said the case had taken a significant toll on the actor’s personal life and career.
“Micheal Ward is enormously grateful to the members of the jury for taking the time to examine the evidence in this case with such care,” Ilyas said. “As he maintained throughout this case, this was a consensual sexual encounter. The jury agreed and cleared him of all wrongdoing.”
The solicitor added that the investigation, which began more than three years ago, had placed Ward’s life and career on hold and had a profound impact on him and those closest to him. He said the actor is now looking forward to returning to work and focusing on the future.
Ilyas also noted that Ward wished to acknowledge survivors of sexual violence and abuse, saying they deserve to be heard, treated with compassion and have their allegations taken seriously.
Ward is widely recognised for portraying Jamie in the acclaimed Netflix crime drama Top Boy. He received the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2020 and has appeared in films including Blue Story and Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light.
Born in Jamaica, Ward moved to east London as a child and was raised by his mother alongside his three sisters after his father died in a car accident when he was two years old.