Top Boy actor Micheal Ward denies raping woman in a car

Actor Micheal Ward has denied raping a woman in a car after meeting her at a nightclub, telling a court they had consensual sex.

Ward, who rose to fame in the drama series Top Boy and also starred in Blue Story, told Snaresbrook Crown Court that he and the woman flirted and shared "passionate" kisses, and that she was an "active participant".

He said he believed she consented to what happened between them and that the sexual encounter would not have happened if she hadn't.

Ward, 28, is accused of raping the woman after meeting her at a nightclub in east London and then going to an afterparty in January 2023.

The actor denies two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault.

In court, defence counsel Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC asked Ward if he raped the woman in January 2023 and also if he sexually assaulted her.

"No, Miss, I did not," was Ward's reply to each of the allegations.

When asked what he thought about the encounter, he said: "Everything we did was wholly consensual." He told the court he believed they were both "having a great time" and that they had a "mutual attraction".

He said: "We engaged in consensual sex, had a great time and she was actively participating in what we were doing all the time."

The court heard Ward, a BAFTA rising star winner, had been the host of a New Year party in Gants Hill, east London, held during a break in his work schedule and a soon-to-be released film.

Ward said he thought the woman was "very cute" and told the court they had a "quite flirty" conversation and he asked for her Snapchat details. The trial was previously told the woman had seen the actor "on TV and in films".

"I could tell there was interest there," Ward told the jury. "From her eye contact and the way she was speaking."

The actor saw her "once or twice" at the party and said he got a "great vibe from her". As the party ended, Ward said he got a message from saying she was waiting by a car.

They had a "very light" and "very cool" chat and Ward asked her to join him in a car, the court heard.

He described what happened inside the vehicle as a "continuation of the flirting, she was touching me and I was touching her".

The actor said the woman was "reciprocating the energy". He continued: "For me, that was an inviting act and we were both enjoying that moment."

When they stopped, Ward said he wanted to see her again and later shared details of an afterparty in Stratford, also in east London. As he was leaving the afterparty, he asked the woman to go to his friend's Mercedes to talk.

He said the woman appeared "absolutely fine" as they sat in the front, and that they had a "nice and engaging general conversation".

Again, he said they kissed and touched, telling the jury: "I would say it was very much passionate. She was enjoying it. I was enjoying it."

He said he asked her to go into the back seat, which she did. According to Ward, the car door was unlocked and she gave no indication she wanted to get out.

"I really feel that she wanted to be there," he told jurors. "She never mentioned anything about wanting to leave."

His lawyer asked him if the woman did anything to show she did not consent to what happened, to which he replied. "No, Miss. If she did we would not have done it."

Ward reiterated that he did not force the woman and said they kissed, hugged and had a conversation before she left.

They later exchanged messages, the court has heard. He sent her a smiling emoji with a heart, and the woman told him to enjoy the rest of his night.

The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Top Boy actor Micheal Ward denies raping woman in a car