Actor Michael Ward faces sexual assault trial in London

A trial began this week at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London where actor Michael Ward, known for his roles in the series "Top Boy" and the film "Blue Story," is facing multiple sexual offense charges. The 28-year-old BAFTA winner denies two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against one woman in early January 2023.

Prosecutors told the jury that Ward met the woman for the first time at an "all-white" party at the Infinity Lounge nightclub in Gants Hill, east London, on January 1, 2023. The court heard that the woman recognized Ward from television and film, and he asked for her Snapchat username. As guests left around 2:30 a.m. on January 2, Ward invited her to join him in the back of a friend's Mercedes. The prosecution stated the pair kissed and the woman consented to intimate touching at that time.

Ward then invited the woman and her two friends to an afterparty in Stratford. The court heard the woman felt a "weird vibe" at the second gathering, which was mostly attended by men, and she and her friends decided to leave shortly after arriving. Outside, Ward approached her and, after learning she was leaving, suggested they...