Top Boy Actor Michael Ward Cleared Of Rape & Sexual Assault Charges.

                                                

Top Boy actor Michael Ward has been found not guilty of all charges in his rape and sexual assault trial, bringing an end to a case that had been under investigation for more than three years.

The 28-year-old actor was accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman following a New Year's party in east London in January 2023. He denied two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault.

On Friday, a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court unanimously found Ward not guilty on all five 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 in the courtroom. Family and friends seated in the public gallery reportedly reacted with audible relief, while the actor was later assisted from the courtroom by his defence lawyer.

During the trial, Ward maintained that the encounter was entirely consensual.

"Everything we did was wholly consensual," he told the court, adding that he believed they were both "having a great time" and shared a "mutual attraction."

Following the verdict, Ward's solicitor, Humzah Ilyas, said the case had taken a significant toll on the actor's personal life and career.

In a statement outside the court, Ilyas said Ward was grateful to the jury for carefully considering the evidence and reiterated that his client had consistently maintained the encounter was consensual.

He added that the lengthy investigation had placed Ward's life and career on hold, describing its impact as "profound."

The solicitor said Ward was relieved the legal process had concluded and was looking forward to returning to his acting career. He 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, who appeared emotional throughout the statement, also expressed gratitude to his family and to God for their support.

Michael Ward is widely known for portraying Jamie in Netflix's critically acclaimed series Top Boy. He won the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2020 and has starred in films including Blue Story and Sam Mendes' Empire of Light.