Actor Noel Clarke pleaded not guilty Wednesday to six sexual offence charges, the first formal step in a criminal case that follows years of public allegations. Clarke appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London and denied all charges: two counts of sexual assault, three of voyeurism and one of exposure. Prosecutors say the offences took place in London and Dorset between 2007 and 2016, and involve five women. The 50-year-old, from Kensington, was conditionally bailed to appear next at Southwark Crown Court on November 18.
Clarke was charged last month by the Metropolitan Police after the Crown Prosecution Service reviewed a file of evidence and authorized the charges. Detectives began investigating in September 2025, and photographers captured officers leaving Clarke’s home with boxes.
The case traces to April 2021. The Guardian reported then that 20 women accused Clarke of sexual harassment, unwanted touching, inappropriate behavior on set and bullying. Clarke, creator of the Kidulthood trilogy and a star of Doctor Who, said he “vehemently” denied any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing, though he apologized to those he had hurt and said he would seek professional help. Britain’s film academy suspended his membership and his outstanding British contribution award, and Sky halted work with him. Sky later cancelled his drama Bulletproof.
Clarke fought back in court. He sued the newspaper for libel and lost last year, when the judge ruled its reporting “substantially true” and found Clarke lacked credibility as a witness. He was ordered to pay £3 million toward the paper’s legal costs. Over a dozen women testified against him in that case.
Clarke has consistently rejected the allegations. In a 2022 newspaper interview, he complained of a rush to judgment amplified by social media and said that he had faced no arrest, charge or verdict, only public condemnation. At that time, he said he had lost everything. The charges are allegations, and Clarke is presumed innocent until a court rules otherwise. The Wednesday hearing did not examine the evidence. That falls to the Crown Court, where a trial date is yet to be set.
