Woman Denies Consensual Encounter in Top Boy Actor Rape Trial

Ward, 28, who appeared in Blue Story and was awarded the BAFTA Rising Star award in 2020, denies two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault. The charges relate to an incident the court heard took place in a car in the early hours of January 2, 2023, after Ward and the woman met at a nightclub and later attended an afterparty in Stratford, east London. The woman cannot be named for legal reasons.

What the Court Has Heard

According to evidence presented so far, the woman told jurors she knew Ward from film and television and felt flattered when he asked for her contact details on the night in question. She said that at the afterparty, Ward asked her to go with him to a car to talk, and that the two were kissing before she moved into the back seat with him.

She told the court she had never denied kissing Ward but said she felt pressured during what followed, and that she believed complying was the only way she would be allowed to leave. She said she raised the need to leave with him multiple times. Under cross-examination, defence barrister Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC put it to the woman that what happened in the car was consensual. The woman rejected this, telling the court it had never been consensual.

A friend who collected the woman afterwards told the court the woman appeared shaken and out of sorts, and that it took direct questioning before the woman indicated something had happened. Jurors also heard that the woman later ordered an STI testing kit and indicated on it that she believed she had been sexually assaulted.

Ward’s Response

Ward was arrested on January 18, 2023. In a prepared statement to police at the time, he denied the rape allegation and stated that the sexual activity between them, including foreplay, had been consensual. He has maintained that position throughout the proceedings. Ward has previously been nominated for a BAFTA for his role in the BBC’s Small Axe and appeared in the 2022 film Empire of Light.

Where Things Stand

The trial is ongoing at Snaresbrook Crown Court, and evidence continues to be heard. As with any active criminal proceeding, Ward is presumed innocent unless and until a jury reaches a verdict, and no conclusions should be drawn before the trial concludes. I’d suggest following coverage from established court reporters (such as PA Media, whose reporting underlies most of the coverage circulating on this case) for verified updates as the trial progresses.