‘Top Boy’ star Micheal Ward charged with rape and sexual assault
British actor Micheal Ward, best known for starring in Top Boy, has been charged with rape and sexual assault.
Ward, who recently appeared in the new Ari Aster movie Eddington, has been charged by London’s Metropolitan Police with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The charges relate to one woman and the incidents are alleged to have taken place in January 2023.
In a statement, Detective Superintendent Scott Ware, whose team is leading the investigation by the Metropolitan Police, 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.”
Additionally, Catherine Baccas, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London South, said in a statement: “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.”
Baccas continued: “We remind all concerned that proceedings against the suspect are active and he has a right to a fair trial.”
The Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London South also stated: “It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings.”
Ward is scheduled to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on August 28th, 2025.
His career as an actor started in 2016 when he appeared in Brotherhood, the long-awaited sequel to Kidulthood. Three years later, he rose to prominence as Jamie in Netflix’s revival of Top Boy, which became a global success.
In 2019, Ward also starred in Blue Story, and as a result of this celebrated role alongside his performance in Top Boy, he was awarded the coveted BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2020. Ward was also nominated for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ at the BAFTAs in 2021 for the BBC drama Small Axe.
Ward’s biggest Hollywood role to date is in Eddington, which is set to arrive in cinemas on August 22nd, 2025, in the United Kingdom. The movie, which also stars Pedro Pascal, Austin Butler, Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone, was released theatrically in the United States on July 18th.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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