Top Boy actor Micheal Ward was 'overpowering' as he raped woman in car, court told

A woman has described Top Boy actor Micheal Ward as "overpowering," telling a court she "didn't really feel like I had a choice" as she was raped by him in a car.

The BAFTA-winner is on trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court accused of raping the woman after meeting her at a nightclub in London on 2 January 2023.

The 28-year-old denies two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against the alleged victim.

She told the court she was given specific instructions to walk behind him and not to talk to anyone as they walked together to go to a car to talk while at an afterparty in Stratford, east London.

In an interview with police on 13 January 2023, which was played to jurors, the alleged victim said: "I tried to leave the vehicle and he told me to close the door."

Describing the alleged assault, the woman told police: "He said: 'If I tell you to do it, you do it.'"

Asked how she felt during the alleged assaults, the woman said she felt "numb" and "scared", adding she remembered "wanting it all to be over".

She added: "I didn't really feel like I had a choice. I said I didn't want to do it."

In a second interview with police on 29 July 2024, also played to jurors on Tuesday, the woman said: "He didn't respect what I was saying. All he cared about was what he wanted."

The woman said Ward was "overpowering", adding: "As soon as he made me get into the back of the car, the atmosphere completely changed."

The woman, who cried as she spoke to police, added: "I genuinely believed if I did what he asked I could leave. I just didn't feel like I had a choice but to be there."

Alleged victim 'embarrassed' about phone messages

Discussing phone messages she sent to Ward after the alleged assaults, which were initially not handed over to police by her, the woman said: "I don't know why I chose to hide from them that we had a conversation after it happened."

She said she was "embarrassed", adding: "I just didn't really feel like I had an explanation as to why I replied."

Ward was arrested on 18 January 2023 and 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 Jamaican-born British actor was awarded the BAFTA rising star honour in 2020 and has twice been nominated for best supporting actor - for his role in the Small Axe anthology series in 2021 and the 2022 film Empire Of Light.

He also appeared in Blue Story and the US film Eddington, which was released last August.

The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Top Boy actor Micheal Ward was 'overpowering' as he raped woman in car, court told