Top Boy actor Micheal Ward charged with rape and sexual assault
Top Boy star Micheal Ward has been charged with rape and sexual assault, the Metropolitan Police have announced.
The BAFTA-nominated actor - best known for his role as 'Jamie' in Ronan Bennett's hard-hitting series - is facing five charges in total.
Ward, who has also appeared in films such as Blue Story and The Old Guard, is set to to appear in court next month.
The Met Police announced that the 27-year-old has been charged with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault on Friday (25 July).
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The offences relate to one woman and are reported to have taken place in January 2023.
Detective Superintendent Scott Ware, whose team is leading the Met’s investigation, said: "Our specialist officers continue to support the woman who has come forward - we know investigations of this nature can have significant impact on those who make reports."
Ward, of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, is set to appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on 28 August.
Catherine Baccas, deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS London South, said: "Having carefully reviewed a file of evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Micheal Ward, 27, with two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against a woman in January 2023.
"We remind all concerned that proceedings against the suspect are active and he has a right to a fair trial.
"It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings."
The former model shot to fame as a teenager, when he scored roles in music videos for stars including Lily Allen and Tom Walker.
He then entered the acting world in 2016, making his debut in Brotherhood, which is the sequel to the UK cult classic Kidulthood.
Ward appeared in teen thriller The A List, before he got his big break in the third series of Top Boy where he starred as drug dealer Jamie.
He went on to appear in the 2019 film Blue Story, which earned him the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2020.
In an Instagram post celebrating his win, Ward wrote: "I was never gonna let my mums struggles amount to nothing.
"Thanks again to everyone who supported me by voting and getting all your people to vote it means a lot I don’t think you understand.
"This award just means more work needs to get put in and that’s exactly what I’m going to do."
The following year, Ward was nominated for the 'Best Supporting Actor' gong at the awards show for his role in Small Axe.
He went on to star alongside industry titans such as Olivia Colman, Colin Firth and Tanya Moodie in the 2022 film Empire of Light.
Olivia Burke