Woman denies consensual encounter in Top Boy actor rape trial

Woman denies consensual encounter in Top Boy actor rape trialImage source, ReutersByRorey BosottiPublished13 minutes agoA woman who claims she was raped by Top Boy actor Michael Ward has denied suggestions the encounter was consensual.Ward is accused of raping the woman in a car after meeting her at a nightclub in east London in January 2023.The 28-year-old denies two charges of rape and three counts of sexual assault against the woman, and has said all sexual activity between the pair was consensual.The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, broke down as she told the jury she "did not understand the situation" she was in and that she "never would have got in that car with him" if she had known.Jurors previously were told she knew Ward had been in films and on TV and felt flattered when he asked for her Snapchat handle.Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, defending for Ward, told the woman "what happened in the back of the car was consensual", to which she replied: "No, Michael raped me."The alleged victim became emotional as she recalled she "did not use the word no" and "completely shut down" during the encounter on 2 January 2023.She said she repeatedly told the Blue Story actor she needed to leave "on multiple occasions".The woman looked upset when she got into a friend's car to go home after the alleged assault, the court heard.The friend, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court the woman's "demeanour was off" and "she kept on crying" when asked what had happened."Because I knew something was wrong with her. I said 'are you OK?'" the friend said. "I asked her if he had raped her. I realised how intense that was and asked her, 'has he assaulted you?'The alleged victim ordered an STI kit while returning home and ticked a box asking if she had been sexually assaulted, the court also heard.In a prepared statement fo...