Conservative Member of Parliament Patrick Spencer faces two counts of sexual assault, with a court hearing that he drunkenly groped the breasts of two women after persistent advances at London's Groucho club on August 12, 2023. Spencer, who represents Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, denies the charges.
During the trial at Southwark Crown Court, prosecutor Polly Dyer presented the case, stating that Spencer, then a guest at the private members' club, approached the women and touched them without consent. The women, who did not know Spencer at the time, later identified him using his parliamentary profile picture.
The court heard that the first woman repeatedly refused Spencer's offers for a drink, but eventually accepted one to appease him. Despite her moving away, she reported that Spencer later approached her from behind, placed his hands under her arms, and touched her breasts. The second woman recounted a similar experience shortly after, describing the man as unsteady on his feet and slurring his words. She also stated that he approached her from behind, put his arms around her, and placed his hands on her breasts. Jurors were told that the women later realized they had similar encounters with the same man.
Spencer was confronted at the bar and left the club with a friend. While police were notified in August 2023, the suspect was not identified until mid-2024. He was later suspended from the Conservative Party, and the party whip was withdrawn, resulting in him sitting in Parliament as an independent MP.
A Conservative Party spokesman stated that the party "believes in integrity and high standards" and took "immediate action."
CCTV footage reviewed by a member of the Groucho staff matched the man's arrival with Spencer's sign-in details. The Metropolitan Police officer initially investigating did not immediately pursue inquiries after Spencer's name was supplied by the club, leading to formal statements from the women not being taken until early 2025. Spencer was first interviewed by police in March 2025, approximately 19 months after the alleged incidents.
During his police interview, Spencer stated he attended the club with friends and stayed for about two hours. He admitted to hugging a friend from behind and claimed he put his arms around the two women because he mistakenly believed they were part of the same group. He acknowledged his behavior was inappropriate and described it as "overfriendly" without intent to cause upset, admitting he had been drinking but was not out of control. He told officers he was "appalled" by the allegations of touching breasts and stated it was not his intention to do so.
Spencer's defense, however, maintains that he did not touch either woman's breasts. The trial is ongoing.