Conservative MP Patrick Spencer has been accused of groping the breasts of two women at London's Groucho Club after allegedly pestering them to have a drink with him, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Allegations of Sexual Assault
The MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich is accused of drunkenly approaching the women from behind and placing his hands on their breasts without consent during a night out at the Soho private members' club in August 2023. The two women did not know his identity at the time but later identified him from his profile image on the Parliament website, jurors heard.
Prosecutor Polly Dyer told the court that on August 12, 2023, after a musical performance, guests were drinking in the Soho bar. The first alleged victim said a man she did not know tried to start a conversation and was “insistent she had a drink despite her saying no several times.” She eventually sipped a drink he bought her “to appease him.” The woman described the man as “animated” and appearing to have been drinking. When she returned to the bar later, he tried to talk to her again. “She had her back to him. She will tell you the male put his hands under her arms and touched her breasts. It took her completely by surprise,” Ms. Dyer said.
Second Alleged Victim
A short time later, Spencer allegedly targeted a second woman after trying to talk to her, making her “feel uncomfortable.” Ms. Dyer said: “She considered the male to be drunk. He was unsteady and slurring.” The woman also agreed to take a sip of a drink he provided “to appease him in the hope he would go away.” The prosecutor continued: “She will tell you at one point the male approached her from behind, reached his arms around her, and placed both his hands on top of her breasts. She was taken aback and peeled his hands from her.”
Jurors heard that the two women told each other about their interactions with the same man. Spencer was confronted at the bar and left the Groucho Club shortly afterwards with a friend.
Investigation Delays
A report was made to police in August 2023, but Spencer was not identified until mid-2024. A Groucho worker turned detective by reviewing CCTV footage and matching Spencer's arrival time with his name in the sign-in book. Ms. Dyer said the Metropolitan Police investigating officer failed to realize that Spencer's name had been provided by the club and “did not progress the investigation as expeditiously as he might have done.” The women were not asked to provide statements until early 2025, and Spencer was questioned by police in March.
Spencer's Defense
Spencer, 38, whose full name is Michael Patrick Spencer, was elected as a Conservative MP in the 2024 general election while the alleged assaults were under investigation. He was suspended from the Tory Party and had the whip withdrawn after the charges were brought last year. In police interview, Spencer said he went to the club with four friends and spent around two hours there before being asked to leave because he had “upset people who had asked for him to be removed.” He described his behavior as “overfriendly but without any intent to upset anyone.” He told police he hugged a friend from behind and did the same to the two women, believing they were part of the same group. The prosecutor said Spencer's defense is that he did not touch their breasts at all.
Spencer denies two counts of sexual assault. The trial continues.
