ONDON — Michael Ward, the acclaimed British actor originally from Spanish Town, Jamaica, is now at the center of a criminal case following charges of rape and sexual assault. Prosecutors have confirmed that the allegations involve a single woman and date back to January 2023.
The Crown Prosecution Service has authorized the Metropolitan Police to proceed with five charges: two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault. These developments come after an extensive review of evidence by the CPS’s London South division.
Officials have emphasized the sensitivity of the case and warned the public against publishing or sharing material that could compromise the legal process.
Ward, 27, became a breakout star in the United Kingdom after his role in the Netflix series Top Boy and went on to earn a BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2020. His rising trajectory included standout performances in Blue Story, Empire of Light, and Small Axe, earning both public praise and industry recognition.
Despite his rising stardom, Ward will now stand before the Thames Magistrates’ Court on August 28—just under a week after the anticipated release of his new film, Eddington. His legal team has yet to release a public statement.
