LONDON — British-Jamaican actor Micheal Ward is set to appear before a London court later this summer after being formally charged with multiple serious offences stemming from an alleged incident in early 2023.
The 27-year-old, known for his breakout roles in Top Boy and Blue Story, has been charged with two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault. Authorities have stated the charges relate to a single complainant and are tied to an alleged encounter that occurred in January of last year.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), following a comprehensive review of evidence submitted by the Metropolitan Police, authorized the charges earlier this week. Catherine Baccas, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London South, confirmed the decision and emphasized that legal proceedings are active and ongoing.
Ward is expected to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on August 28—just days after the scheduled release of his new film Eddington. Legal officials have urged the public and media to avoid speculation or commentary that could compromise the judicial process.
Widely regarded as one of the UK’s rising film talents, Ward previously won the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2020 and earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the BAFTA Television Awards for his performance in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe.
The case is likely to draw considerable public attention, given Ward’s high profile and the gravity of the charges. Authorities have reiterated the importance of respecting the integrity of the court process as it unfolds.
