Micheal Ward Acquitted of Rape and Sexual Assault Charges
Jury delivers unanimous verdict after five hours of deliberation in high-profile case.
Image: Matt Weston / AI
Sarah Connor
Bafta-winning actor Micheal Ward has been acquitted of all charges related to rape and sexual assault following a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Ward consistently maintained the encounter with the accuser was consensual, stating they were 'having a great time.' He expressed shock upon his arrest after returning from Italy, asserting he had committed no wrongdoing.
The woman involved testified to feeling 'numb' and 'scared,' claiming she did not feel she had a choice during the alleged incident. She also ordered an STI kit and indicated she had been sexually assaulted.
Bent that night on having sex with her come what may.
Prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC argued Ward was 'bent that night on having sex with her come what may.' Defence counsel Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC countered, asserting the woman's testimony lacked consistency and contained a series of lies central to the case.
The woman claimed Michael Ward raped her, stating she 'never would have got in that car with him' if she had known what would happen. She denied to Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC that the encounter was consensual, recalling she 'completely shut down' and 'did not use the word no' during the alleged attack.
She also claimed she repeatedly told Ward she needed to leave 'on multiple occasions.' Conversely, Ward told the court he sensed 'there was interest there' from the woman, noting she reciprocated energy and pulled him close.
He maintained they engaged in consensual foreplay and consensual sex, stating the woman never mentioned wanting to leave and seemed 'absolutely fine.' He described their interaction as 'nice and engaging general conversation.'
Beyond the courtroom testimony, friends of the accuser recalled 'her demeanour was off' when she returned to the car for their journey home. She ordered an STI kit during the drive, adding another layer to the narrative.
The woman explained she exchanged some friendly messages with Ward following the incident because she 'had not fully come to terms with what had actually happened to her.' This detail offered insight into her immediate post-event actions.
Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC highlighted at least three significant areas where the woman's testimony could be demonstrated as untruthful. The defence counsel stated the woman claimed to have blood on her clothing, but tests found nothing.
Furthermore, the defence noted she 'flipped one way and then the other' regarding whether flirting had occurred. Ward told the court he and the woman flirted, had foreplay, and enjoyed 'passionate' kisses.
Her demeanour was off.
He asserted an intimate act between them would not have happened if she did not want it. The prosecution suggested the woman had no motivation to claim rape if it had not occurred.
They acknowledged she admitted she thinks Ward is 'attractive' and 'does not deny that what happened in the first car was consensual.' This point aimed to establish a lack of ulterior motive.
This verdict arrives amidst a broader societal conversation regarding consent and sexual assault allegations. Legal systems globally grapple with the complexities of such cases, reflecting ongoing challenges.
The outcome reflects the rigorous scrutiny applied to evidence and testimony within the British judicial framework. This is particularly evident in high-profile trials involving public figures.
For Ward, the acquittal marks a definitive end to a period of intense legal challenge. He can now resume his career following the court's decision, moving past the significant disruption.