Micheal Ward found not guilty of rape after Old Bailey trial

Micheal Ward, the actor best known for his role in the acclaimed Netflix series Top Boy, has been cleared of rape following a trial at the Old Bailey in London. The jury returned a not guilty verdict after deliberating for just over nine hours across two days.

What happened in court

Ward, 27, had been accused of raping a woman at a property in south London in 2022. The charge was a single count of rape, which he denied throughout. Prosecutors argued the sexual encounter was non-consensual, but Ward told the jury from the witness box that everything that happened between him and the complainant was “wholly consensual.” He was calm and composed during his testimony, according to those present in the courtroom.

The trial lasted approximately three weeks at the Central Criminal Court. Ward sat in the dock throughout, often accompanied by members of his family who filled several rows of the public gallery.

The verdict and Ward’s response

When the foreman of the jury delivered the not guilty verdict shortly before 3pm on Thursday, there were audible gasps and quiet sobs from the public gallery. Ward closed his eyes briefly and exhaled. He didn’t speak publicly outside the court, but a statement issued through his legal team said he was relieved the jury had heard the full facts of the case.

He was acquitted.

His barrister, Dafydd Enoch KC, said in a brief statement on the court steps that his client had always maintained his innocence and that the verdict reflected that. “He’s grateful to the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence,” Enoch said.

Who is Micheal Ward?

Ward rose to fame playing Jamie Tovell in Top Boy, the gritty London crime drama that ran on Netflix until 2023. He’s also known for his BAFTA-winning performance in the film Blue Story, released in 2019. The actor grew up in Brixton and has spoken in interviews about using his platform to represent young Black British men on screen. His career had been gaining serious momentum before the charge was brought against him last year.

But throughout the legal proceedings, Ward maintained a low profile, largely stepping back from public appearances. It’s unclear how quickly he’ll return to work, though industry sources suggest several projects had been quietly placed on hold pending the outcome of the trial.

What happens next

So where does Ward go from here? His team haven’t confirmed any upcoming projects as of Thursday afternoon. Still, with the not guilty verdict now on record, there’s little formal barrier stopping him from resuming his career in full. Several figures in the British film and television industry have already privately reached out to express support, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it would not be seeking a retrial. The complainant was not present in court when the verdict was delivered.