A court has heard that BAFTA-winning actor Micheal Ward, known for the series Top Boy and Blue Story, allegedly raped and assaulted a woman in a car after meeting in a bar in London in 2023.

A police interview with Ward’s accuser was played to a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday (June 29, per BBC News), as she claimed the alleged attack happened after she met the actor in north-east London. Having accompanied Ward to his friend’s Mercedes, the trial heard that the pair kissed and the woman consented to being touched intimately.

Having been invited with her friends to a party in a second location, the woman claimed she was then raped and assaulted in a car near the second party. In her police interview, the alleged victim recalled: “I tried to leave the vehicle and he told me to close the door.” She also described feeling “numb” and “scared” during the alleged assault.

Micheal Ward has denied two charges of rape and three counts of sexual assault, saying all sexual activity between them was consensual. He told police in a statement: “I deny the allegation of rape. I want to put on record that we had consensual foreplay and consensual sex.” The trial continues.

Ward found success with the 2019 drama Blue Story, about two friends torn apart by gang rivalries. He won the BAFTA Rising Star award that year for the role, and has been nominated for two more BAFTAs since. On television, he played the role of Jamie in series 3 and 4 of Top Boy, as well as starring in Steve McQueen’s anthology Small Axe, in the story Lovers Rock.

He also had supporting roles in the films The Book Of Clarence, produced by Jay-Z, Sam Mendes’ drama Empire Of Light, and the Bob Marley biopic One Love. His most recent role was opposite Joaquin Phoenix in last year’s Ari Aster thriller Eddington.

For more 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.