BAFTA-winning actor Michael Ward was embraced by family, supporters and members of his legal team after being found not guilty of all charges against him.

Emotional scenes unfolded outside court as the Top Boy star hugged loved ones, his defence team, led by barrister Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, and members of his church congregation following the verdict. Ward was also seen overcome with emotion inside the courtroom, sobbing after the jury cleared him of every charge.

The 28-year-old had been accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman after the pair met at a nightclub in Stratford, east London.

Ward denied two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault throughout the trial. Giving evidence in court, he maintained that the encounter had been entirely consensual.

Following deliberations, the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on all five charges, bringing the high-profile case to an end.

Ward rose to prominence through his breakout role as Jamie in the hit Netflix crime drama Top Boy, earning widespread acclaim for his performance. He later won the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2020 and has since starred in major productions including Blue Story, Empire of Light, The Beautiful Game and Eddington, establishing himself as one of Britain's most recognisable young actors.

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