Suffolk MP Patrick Spencer is on trial for two counts of sexual assault. He appeared at court on Tuesday to face the charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
The allegations stem from two separate incidents involving two women at the Groucho Club in central London in August 2023. The Crown Prosecution Service authorized the charges after reviewing evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Spencer, who is the son of billionaire businessman and Tory peer Michael Spencer, is a father of two. The Groucho Club, a private members' establishment in Soho, opened in 1985 and has been a known meeting place for celebrities and media figures.
The Crown Prosecution Service has reminded the public that criminal proceedings are active and that the defendant has the right to a fair trial, cautioning against any reporting, commentary, or online sharing of information that could prejudice the proceedings.
Under UK law, Members of Parliament who receive a custodial sentence of one year or more immediately lose their seat, unless an appeal is lodged. A custodial sentence of less than a year triggers a recall petition in the MP's constituency.