The issue of consent will be pivotal in determining the fate of Bafta-winning actor Micheal Ward, who is accused of raping a woman in the back of a car, a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court has been told.
Prosecution and Defence Clash Over Consent
Ward, 28, from Silvertown, east London, denies two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against a woman on January 2, 2023. The prosecution alleges he acted only for 'his own pleasure come what may,' while the defence maintains that all physical contact was consensual.
In her closing speech, prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC told the jury the woman had told 'the absolute truth' and urged them not to be 'judgmental or stereotyped.' Defence counsel Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC countered that the woman had been inconsistent and had told 'a series of lies that go to the heart of this matter.'
Jury Directed to Consider Consent and Belief
Judge Rosa Dean instructed the jury: 'This is a case where two young people had sex in the back of a car and your job is to decide if there was consent.' She added that the jury must consider whether Ward had a reasonable belief of consent in the circumstances.
The court heard that the woman initially consented to kissing and hugging in a Mercedes outside a party but later alleged she was assaulted in another Mercedes after an after-party event. The prosecution argued that Ward wanted 'quick sex in the back of the car' with a woman he fancied, while the defence pointed to emoji messages sent after the encounter as evidence of his good faith.
Character Witnesses and Inconsistencies
Character witnesses, including Ward's ex-girlfriend, a talent agent, and a Top Boy co-star, described him as 'honest and trustworthy.' The defence highlighted that the woman took 18 months to report deleted messages with Ward and that her friends were asked for screenshots of their chats. The woman also claimed blood on her clothing, but tests found nothing.
Ward, who won the Bafta rising star award in 2020 and was nominated for best supporting actor for BBC's Small Axe, has appeared in films such as Empire of Light and Eddington. The trial continues.
