BAFTA-winning Top Boy actor Micheal Ward is accused of raping a woman in a car after meeting her at a nightclub, a court has been told. The 28-year-old, known for his roles in Blue Story and Small Axe, denies two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against one woman in January 2023.
Alleged Incident at Infinity Lounge Nightclub
Ward encountered the alleged victim for the first time at an "all-white party" at Infinity Lounge nightclub in Gant's Hill, east London, on January 1, prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC stated. In her opening statement at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday, the prosecutor informed jurors that the "young woman" had recognised Ward "on TV and in films" and he requested her Snapchat handle.
As people began to depart from the event around 2.20am on January 2, the woman was asked to join Ward at the back of his mate's Mercedes. While in the car, they shared a kiss, with the woman consenting to him touching her vagina, the court was told.
Journey to Afterparty and Alleged Assaults
Ward then suggested they head to an afterparty in Stratford, and the alleged victim along with her two friends agreed to attend before heading back to Suffolk. Jurors heard that the alleged victim felt a "weird vibe" at the party, which was predominantly attended by men, and the women left shortly after engaging in conversation with a few individuals.
Once outside, the alleged victim claimed she saw Ward, who asked her where she was headed. She informed him they were departing due to a lengthy drive home, but he proposed she walk up to a car parked further up the road so he could speak with her again. The woman claimed she was given explicit instructions to walk behind him and not to converse with anyone along the way, the court heard.
Details of the Alleged Sexual Assaults
Ward took the driver's seat while the woman sat on the passenger side, with the actor kissing her before suggesting they move to the back seat. Ms Ayling stated that Ward "became quite impatient" and told her to "stop wasting time" after she initially agreed he could kiss her in the front seat, the court heard.
Upon moving to the back seat, Ward sexually assaulted her by kissing her breasts and she told him "I don't wanna do that", the jury was informed. While inside the car, Ward committed further assault, the court heard. The woman expressed to him "this was not a situation she wanted to be in" and feeling "uncomfortable", she opened the car door, but Ward "quite sternly told her to close it", the jury was informed.
Ward is accused of then orally raping the woman while she felt "pressured" and subsequently raping her in the car. The court heard Ward asked the woman: "When I tell you to suck my d***, what do you do?".
Aftermath and Reporting
After the alleged assaults, the woman walked to her friend's car and Ward sent her a message containing a "teary-eyed emoji and a heart emoji". She responded by telling him to "enjoy the rest of his evening". On her journey home, the woman was in pain and "experienced a stinging pain", the jury was informed. She requested an STI kit on her drive back, ticking a box to indicate she had been sexually assaulted.
The woman exchanged a few messages with Ward after the alleged assaults "in friendly terms" because she "hadn't fully come to terms with what had actually happened to her", Ms Ayling explained. The jury was informed that the woman did not immediately report the incident to the police as she did not "really understand what had happened" and "because of who he is, she didn't feel she could speak out".
Ward was arrested on 18 January 2023 and issued a prepared statement to the police: "I deny the allegation of rape. I want to put on record that we had consensual foreplay and consensual sex."
Background on Micheal Ward
Ward received the BAFTA Rising Star award in 2020 and was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor BAFTA for his role in BBC's Small Axe in 2021 and the 2022 film Empire of Light. The actor, born in Jamaica, participated in the Soccer Aid match at Stamford Bridge in 2024 and delivered a reading at the Christmas Eve carol service hosted by the Princess of Wales in 2023. He also starred in the American film Eddington alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal, which premiered last August.
