British actor Michael Ward has been charged with five sexual offences, including two counts of rape, and is set to appear in court next month.
By M10News Crime Desk
The 27-year-old, best known for his role in Netflix’s Top Boy, faces additional charges of two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The charges relate to a single alleged victim and are reported to stem from incidents allegedly occurring in January 2023.
The Metropolitan Police said the investigation is being led by specialist officers from the force’s sexual offences unit. Detectives are continuing to support the woman who came forward.
Detective Superintendent Scott Ware, who is overseeing the case, stated: “Our specialist officers continue to support the woman who has come forward—we know investigations of this nature can have a significant impact on those who make reports.”
Ward, who resides in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, is due to appear before Thames Magistrates’ Court on 28 August, where he will face the charges for the first time.
In a statement released through his legal team, the actor strongly denied all allegations. “I recognise that proceedings are now ongoing, and I have full faith that they will lead to my name being cleared,” he said.
Catherine Baccas, deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS London South, also issued a public statement regarding the case.
“We remind all concerned that proceedings against the suspect are active, and he has a right to a fair trial,” Baccas said.
“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings,” she added, warning against potentially unlawful online speculation.
Ward rose to prominence for his role as Jamie in the award-winning drama Top Boy, earning acclaim for his performance as a young gang leader in the fictional Summerhouse estate.
He has since appeared in several major film productions, including Blue Story, The Old Guard, and Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light, where he starred alongside Olivia Colman.
In 2020, Ward was awarded the prestigious Bafta Rising Star Award, cementing his reputation as one of Britain’s most promising young actors.
He went on to receive two Bafta nominations for Best Supporting Actor—first in 2021 for his role as Franklyn in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series, and again in 2022 for Empire of Light.
The actor is also slated to appear in the upcoming American film Eddington, which stars Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal. The film is scheduled for release in the UK next month.
Ward maintains a significant social media presence, with more than one million followers on Instagram, and has been involved in several high-profile charity events.
In 2023, he took part in the annual Soccer Aid football match at Stamford Bridge and gave a public reading at the Princess of Wales’s Christmas Eve carol service at Westminster Abbey.
Editing by M10News Crime Desk | Contact: crime@m10news.com
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