Micheal Ward, the Bafta-winning actor who has appeared in Blue Story and Top Boy, has been charged with rape and sexual assault.
Ward, 27, of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, has been charged with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault, the Metropolitan police said. The offences relate to one woman and are alleged to have taken place in January 2023.
Det Supt 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 will appear at Thames magistrates court in east London on 28 August.
In a statement issued after the charges were announced on Friday, the actor said: “I deny the charges against me entirely. I have cooperated fully with the police throughout their investigation and will continue to cooperate.
“I recognise that proceedings are now ongoing, and I have full faith that they will lead to my name being cleared. Given those proceedings, I am unable to comment further.”
Catherine Baccas, the 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 any way prejudice these proceedings.”
Ward first came on to screens in the TV series Brotherhood but is best known for his role as Jamie in Top Boy from 2013 until 2022.
The Jamaican-born actor was awarded the Bafta rising star honour in 2020 and was nominated for the best supporting actor Bafta for his role as Franklyn Cooper in Lovers Rock, part of the BBC series Small Axe, the following year.
He also starred in the 2022 film Empire of Light and was cast in the forthcoming US pandemic-era western movie Eddington, due to be released in the UK next month.
