Micheal Ward, the 28-year-old actor known for his roles in “Top Boy” and “Small Axe,” has gone on trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London facing multiple sexual offence charges. Ward denies two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against a woman in January 2023.

Prosecutors allege that Ward met the alleged victim at Infinity Lounge nightclub in Gants Hill, east London, during an “all-white party” on January 1, 2023. The woman, who had seen Ward in films and on television, including his Bafta-recognised performances, was approached by the actor who asked for her Snapchat handle. After the party, he invited her and her friends to an after-party in Stratford.

According to the prosecution, the woman and Ward, along with her friends, travelled toward the after-party in a car. Some consensual sexual contact reportedly took place en route, but upon arriving, the woman experienced a “weird vibe” and decided to leave. Ward is alleged to have followed her and asked her to meet him in a car parked nearby. The prosecution said Ward instructed her to walk behind him and not to speak to anyone on the way.

Once inside the car, Ward is accused of making unwanted sexual advances which the woman resisted. Prosecutors said Ward became impatient and told her to “stop wasting time.” The woman informed police she felt pressured and scared during these interactions, stating she did not want to engage and tried to leave the vehicle at one point but was told sternly by Ward to close the door.

The woman alleges that Ward sexually assaulted and raped her inside the car, including oral rape. She described feeling numb and wanting the situation to end during a police interview played in court. She did not immediately report the alleged incident, citing confusion about what had happened and Ward’s prominence in the entertainment industry as reasons for her delay. Ward is said to have contacted the woman afterward, to which she responded selectively, in an apparent attempt to move past the experience.

Ward, who won the EE Rising Star Bafta award in 2020 and received nominations for best supporting actor for his work in “Small Axe” and “Empire of Light,” has denied all charges. During his police interview, he maintained that any sexual activity was consensual.

The trial is ongoing.