Actor Micheal Ward Cleared of Rape by Jury at Inner London Crown Court

Actor Micheal Ward, recognised for his work in the television series 'Top Boy' and film 'Blue Story', has been acquitted of one count of rape following a trial at Inner London Crown Court. The jury returned a not guilty verdict after deliberating for just under three hours.

The accusation, made by a woman in her 20s, stemmed from an incident at a hotel in Shoreditch, East London, in the early hours of 20 March 2022. During the trial, the prosecution alleged that Mr Ward had sex with the woman while she was too intoxicated to consent. However, Mr Ward, 26, consistently asserted that the sexual encounter was "wholly consensual" and that he believed the complainant was conscious and consenting.

In his testimony, Mr Ward described the woman as "flirty" and detailed how they had kissed in a taxi and the hotel lift before entering her room. He stated that he did not perceive her as being too drunk to make decisions. The defence highlighted the complainant's own admission during cross-examination that she had lied about certain details concerning her alcohol consumption and her feelings towards Mr Ward.

Upon the verdict, Mr Ward left the courtroom without making a statement.