Noel Clarke has pleaded not guilty to six sexual offence charges involving five women and alleged conduct between 2007 and 2016.
The 50-year-old actor appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on 21 October 2026. He denied two charges of sexual assault, three of voyeurism and one of exposure.
Reuters reported that Clarke spoke only to confirm his identity, address and pleas. The court granted him bail ahead of a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 18 November.
What led to the criminal charges?
The Metropolitan Police said its criminal investigation began in September 2025, when officers first arrested Clarke and searched his home in Kensington, west London.
Police arrested him again in February 2026 in connection with alleged attempted rape, exposure and sexual touching involving a woman in her 20s in 2007. Officers also questioned him about a separate alleged voyeurism offence from 2013.
Attempted rape does not appear among the six charges now before the courts. The published case consists only of the two sexual-assault counts, three voyeurism counts and one exposure count.
Bethan David, deputy chief crown prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, said prosecutors concluded there was “sufficient evidence” and that bringing the case was in the public interest. Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney said specially trained officers continued to support the women connected to the charges.
How does the earlier civil case differ?
The criminal proceedings follow years of separate legal action connected to reporting first published by The Guardian in 2021. That investigation included allegations from more than 20 women.
Clarke later sued the newspaper for libel. After a six-week civil trial, Mrs Justice Steyn ruled in August 2025 that The Guardian had established truth and public-interest defences concerning its articles. Clarke was subsequently ordered to make an initial £3 million payment toward the newspaper’s legal costs.
That ruling does not determine the criminal case. Civil and criminal proceedings apply different legal tests, and the current prosecution concerns a narrower set of allegations involving five women. Clarke is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless convicted.
Clarke became widely known for playing Mickey Smith in Doctor Who between 2005 and 2010. He also starred in Kidulthood and built a career as an actor, writer, producer and director.
