Woman Denies Consensual Encounter with Actor Michael Ward
L'essentiel
- A woman accused Top Boy actor Michael Ward of rape, denying claims the encounter was consensual.
- She testified she "did not understand the situation" and "never would have got in that car" if she had known.
- Ward denies rape and sexual assault charges.
Résumé généré par IA
Pourquoi c'est important
A woman claims she was raped by actor Michael Ward after meeting him at a nightclub. Ward denies the charges, stating the sexual activity was consensual. The trial is ongoing.
A woman who claims she was raped by Top Boy actor Michael Ward has denied suggestions the encounter was consensual.
Ward is accused of raping the woman in a car after meeting her at a nightclub in east London in January 2023.
The 28-year-old denies two charges of rape and three counts of sexual assault against the woman, and has said all sexual activity between the pair was consensual.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, broke down as she told the jury she "did not understand the situation" she was in and that she "never would have got in that car with him" if she had known.
Jurors previously were told she knew Ward had been in films and on TV and felt flattered when he asked for her Snapchat handle.
Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, defending for Ward, told the woman "what happened in the back of the car was consensual", to which she replied: "No, Michael raped me."
The alleged victim became emotional as she recalled she "did not use the word no" and "completely shut down" during the encounter on 2 January 2023.
She said she repeatedly told the Blue Story actor she needed to leave "on multiple occasions".
The woman looked upset when she got into a friend's car to go home after the alleged assault, the court heard.
The friend, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court the woman's "demeanour was off" and "she kept on crying" when asked what had happened.
"Because I knew something was wrong with her. I said 'are you OK?'" the friend said. "I asked her if he had raped her. I realised how intense that was and asked her, 'has he assaulted you?'
The alleged victim ordered an STI kit while returning home and ticked a box asking if she had been sexually assaulted, the court also heard.
In a prepared statement following his arrest on 18 January 2023, Ward told the police: "I deny the allegation of rape. I want to put on record that we had consensual foreplay and consensual sex."
Ward was awarded the Bafta Rising Star Award in 2020 and was later nominated twice for roles in the BBC's Small Axe and the 2022 film Empire of Light.
Questions ouvertes
- Will the jury believe the alleged victim's testimony?
- What further evidence will be presented?
- What will be the verdict?
