Top Boy star Micheal Ward has been charged with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault, police say. The Jamaican-born actor, 27, rose to fame as Jamie in the third season of the popular London-based crime drama after Netflix revived the show in 2019. The East Londoner previously starred in the film Brotherhood (2016), and played a leading role in Blue Story (2018).
Mr Ward, of Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, is due to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 28. The Met say the offences relate to one woman and are reported to have taken place in January 2023. Both the Met and the Crown Prosecution Service have urged responsible reporting and social media publishing in line with the UK’s contempt of court laws.
Mr Ward was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, but moved to Hackney at the age of four, with the help of family members who ran a Caribbean restaurant in Chadwell Heath, The Times reports. The family later moved to Romford where he attended Chadwell Heath Academy and then studied performing arts at Epping Forest College after dropping out of sixth form.
Detective Superintendent Scott Ware, whose team is leading the Met’s investigation, 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.”
Catherine Baccas, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London South, said: “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.
“We remind all concerned that proceedings against the suspect are active and he has a right to a fair trial. It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings.”
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