Patrick Spencer: Tory MP cleared of Groucho Club sexual assaults
Conservative MP Patrick Spencer broke down in tears after being cleared by a jury of sexually assaulting two women at the Groucho Club in London.
The 38-year-old politician, who was elected MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich in 2024, was seen on camera two women coming up behind him and putting his arms around them during a night out at a private members club in August 2023.
Mr Spencer was accused of “denting” both women’s breasts before “fist pumping” them at their friends nearby.
During police questioning, Mr Spencer apologized for grabbing the two women, who were strangers to him, from behind and admitted this was “unacceptable in this day and age”.
But at the hearing at Southwark Crown Court, Mr Spencer claimed he did not touch one of the women’s breasts and that the contact with the other was incidental and unintentional.
He said his action after the second woman pushed him was because he was “embarrassed” for refusing to hug her, rather than celebrating groping her.
The jury deliberated for just over seven hours before finding Spencer not guilty on two counts of sexual assault.
The MP, who covered his face with his shaking hands as the verdicts were announced, burst into tears before hugging his wife Anna in court.
Mr Spencer is the son of Lord Michael Spencer, the billionaire donor to the Conservative Party.
In a statement following the verdicts, Mr Spencer thanked friends and family for their support, saying: “Our collective nightmare is now over.
“I have always maintained my innocence and today’s not guilty verdict brings to an end a very long and difficult period in my life.
“I want to thank the jury, the court, my legal team and most importantly my incredible wife, children, family, friends and colleagues for their unwavering support.
“I would also like to thank my constituents in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, many of whom have reached out to offer their reassuring support.
“For now, I look forward to returning home to see my children and getting back to work representing my constituents.”
The events at the Groucho Club occurred on 12 August 2023, before Mr Spencer was elected to Parliament.
He told the court he drank red wine with his father at lunch, drank beer while watching England rugby at Twickenham and drank wine and negroni cocktails at the members’ club.
Mr Spencer said in evidence that he could not remember the events at the center of the trial but insisted he would not bother the two women for a drink with him and asked one of them personal questions about her marriage.
The women told jurors they were left “shocked” after being grabbed by Mr Spencer, with one saying she “froze” when she said her breasts had been touched.
In a police interview, the MP described it as a “moment of complete stupidity” but denied he was trying to “feel it out”.
The man, who described himself as “super friendly” and had a “gregarious” personality, admitted to police: “Yeah, he looks awful.”
But in his evidence in court Mr Spencer insisted he would never touch a woman’s breasts without her consent and disputed whether CCTV showed two sexual assaults.
He said he was “surprised” to be kicked out of the members’ club but assumed it was for “being loud, getting clotted, knocking over someone’s glass or hitting someone.”
Mr Spencer was identified by Groucho Club staff after allegations of sexual assault were first made, but a Metropolitan Police officer failed to pursue the investigation and did not even take statements from the women.
Following a complaint that the investigation had stalled, the Met carried out a review in early 2025 and brought in a new detective to collect statements and question the MP.
Met Police Commander Andy Day said: “We accept that this investigation fell short of the high standards we initially expected and have apologized to the two women who reported it.
“Following concerns about the pace of the investigation, the investigation was reviewed in March 2025 and charges were authorized by the Crown Prosecution Service within three months following the leadership of a new investigation team.
“We carried out a wider review to understand the steps that were missed in the initial investigation, which reflects the Met’s new victim-centred sexual offenses policy.
“Our priority remains tackling violence against women and girls, so women in London can have full confidence that the Met will investigate reports thoroughly and quickly.”
Unable to obtain a witness statement, the officer was investigated by the Met’s Professional Standards Directorate, but ultimately no disciplinary proceedings were initiated.
Spencer was supported in court by his wife Anna, who broke down in tears as she gave evidence in his defence, praising his parenting skills and describing him as “such a good man”.
He lost his Tory whip after being accused of sexual assault and sat as an independent in parliament while awaiting his trial.
