MP Patrick Spencer was emotional as he was acquitted by a jury of allegations of sexually assaulting two women at London’s Groucho Club. The 38-year-old Conservative MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, elected in 2024, was captured on camera putting his arms around two women at the private club in August 2023.
Accused of touching the women inappropriately, Spencer apologized during his police interview, acknowledging that his actions were not acceptable. However, during the trial at Southwark Crown Court, he maintained that he did not touch one woman’s breasts and claimed any contact with the other woman was accidental.
After more than seven hours of deliberation, the jury found Spencer not guilty of the sexual assault charges. Visibly emotional, Spencer covered his face with his hands and broke down in tears before embracing his wife, Anna, in court. He is the son of Lord Michael Spencer, a prominent Conservative Party donor.
The incidents at the Groucho Club occurred before Spencer’s parliamentary election, and he explained that he was under the influence of alcohol that day. Spencer mentioned that he could not recall the specific events but denied pressuring the women for drinks or asking personal questions.
While the women described feeling shocked and violated, Spencer characterized his behavior as overly friendly but denied any intentional misconduct. He expressed surprise at being asked to leave the club, attributing it to possibly being loud or clumsy.
The Metropolitan Police faced criticism for the initial handling of the investigation, which led to a review and the appointment of a new detective. Commander Andy Day acknowledged the shortcomings and emphasized the importance of thorough investigations into violence against women.
Despite facing trial, Spencer received support from his wife and maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings. He lost his Conservative Party affiliation but continued to serve as an independent in Parliament pending the trial outcome.
