The alleged rape victim of Top Boy actor Micheal Ward has stated that she 'tried to leave' the vehicle before the assaults occurred, according to police interviews played in court on the second day of his trial. The 28-year-old actor is facing charges at Snaresbrook Crown Court, including two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault, all of which he denies.
Details of the Alleged Incident
The court heard that the pair met at an 'all-white party' at Infinity Lounge nightclub in Gant's Hill on January 1, 2023. After consensual kissing and touching, they agreed to attend an afterparty. The alleged victim, along with two friends, had planned to return to Suffolk after the second party. However, she told police that she felt a 'weird vibe' at the afterparty, which was predominantly attended by men, and left shortly after arriving. Ward followed her outside and asked her to talk in a car.
In a police interview conducted 12 days after the incident, the woman recounted: 'I tried to leave the vehicle and he told me to close the door.' She described feeling 'scared' and 'numb' during the assaults, adding that she was 'wanting it all to be over.'
Allegations of Sexual Assault
Prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC previously informed jurors that the 'young woman' had seen Ward 'on TV and in films,' and that he had asked for her Snapchat username. The alleged victim claimed that Ward instructed her to walk behind him and not to speak to anyone on the way to the car. Once inside the back seat, Ward is alleged to have sexually assaulted her by kissing her breasts, followed by digital penetration of her vagina and anus. The woman alleged Ward told her: 'If I tell you to do it, you do it.' She responded: 'I didn't really feel like I had a choice. I said I didn't want to do it.'
Ward is also accused of orally raping the woman, who felt 'pressured' throughout the ordeal. During the car ride back, she was in pain and ordered an STI kit, ticking a box indicating she had been sexually assaulted.
Woman's Emotional Testimony
In a second interview on July 29, 2024, the alleged victim said: 'He didn't respect what I was saying. All he cared about was what he wanted.' She described Ward as 'overpowering,' stating: 'As soon as he made me get into the back of the car, the atmosphere completely changed.' Through tears, she told police: 'I genuinely believed if I did what he asked I could leave. I just didn't feel like I had a choice but to be there.'
The court also heard about phone messages she sent to Ward after the alleged assaults, which were initially not handed over to police. She explained: 'I don't know why I chose to hide from them that we had a conversation after it happened.' She said she was 'embarrassed' and added: 'I just didn't really feel like I had an explanation as to why I replied.'
Ward's Defense and Background
Ward was arrested on January 18, 2023, and provided a prepared statement to police: 'I deny the allegation of rape. I want to put on record that we had consensual foreplay and consensual sex.' Last August, he was granted bail on the condition that he does not contact the alleged victim, while continuing to deny all allegations.
Ward is best known for his role in the Netflix series Top Boy, and has also appeared in films such as Blue Story, Eddington, and Small Axe. He won the BAFTA Rising Star award in 2020 and has been nominated twice for Best Supporting Actor. The trial continues.
