Micheal Ward has been found not guilty in his London trial. The Top Boy actor was cleared of all charges after a jury reached its verdict at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
The jury cleared the actor of all charges
Micheal Ward found not guilty headlines followed the conclusion of his rape and sexual assault trial in London. The BAFTA winner had denied the charges throughout the legal proceedings.
According to Deadline, a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court acquitted Ward of all charges. The actor had faced two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault relating to one woman.
The allegations related to an incident said to have taken place in January 2023. Sky News reported during the trial that Ward told the court everything that happened was consensual. The trial verdict now brings the criminal case to a close. The Sun reported that the jury reached unanimous not guilty verdicts after more than five hours of deliberation.
After the verdict, Ward’s solicitor read a statement outside court. The statement said the actor was “enormously grateful” to the jury and maintained that the encounter had been consensual. Ward’s legal team also said the investigation and trial had put his life and career on hold for more than three years. The statement added that he now wanted to rebuild his life and return to the work he loves.
The 28-year-old actor is best known for playing Jamie in Top Boy, the Channel 4 and Netflix drama that helped make him one of the U.K.’s breakout screen stars. He also appeared in Blue Story, Small Axe, Empire of Light, and The Old Guard.
For now, the Top Boy actor’s legal ordeal has ended with not guilty verdicts on every charge.
