Overview
- A jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court unanimously found Ward not guilty on two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault after roughly five hours and 25 minutes of deliberation on Friday.
- The allegations dated to January 2023 and described an encounter in the back of a Mercedes after a New Year’s party; Ward denied the charges and told jurors the encounter was consensual.
- Prosecution evidence included police interviews, witness statements about the complainant's demeanour and an STI kit order, while the defence highlighted inconsistencies in the complainant’s accounts and message exchanges.
- Ward became visibly emotional as the verdicts were read and his solicitor said he looks forward to rebuilding his life and work; the accusation had already affected his UK representation though he remains repped in the U.S. by CAA.
- The case underscores ongoing legal and social questions about how juries assess conflicting testimony on consent and leaves both the acquittal and the accuser’s trial testimony in the public record.