Conservative MP Patrick Spencer has been cleared of sexually assaulting two women at the Groucho Club in London, after claiming he only intended to give them a hug. The jury at Southwark Crown Court found him not guilty on two counts of sexual assault following more than seven hours of deliberation.
Incident at the Groucho Club
Spencer, 38, was captured on CCTV approaching two women from behind and putting his arms around them at the private members' club in August 2023, less than a year before he was elected as MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich. He was accused of “cupping” the breasts of both women, whom he did not know, before making a “fist pumping” gesture towards friends nearby.
During his police interview, Spencer apologized for grabbing the women and admitted it was “not acceptable in this day and age.” At trial, he denied touching one woman's breasts and said contact with the other was unintentional. He claimed the gesture after being pushed away was due to being “mortified” that his hug was rejected, not celebration.
Verdict and Reaction
On Friday, the jury returned not guilty verdicts. Spencer covered his face with shaking hands, broke down in tears, and embraced his wife, Anna, in court. Afterward, he said: “Our shared nightmare is now over. I have always maintained my innocence, and today’s not guilty verdict draws a very long and challenging period in my life to a close.”
Spencer is the son of Michael Spencer, a billionaire Conservative party donor. He told the court he had consumed red wine at lunch with his father, beers at Twickenham watching an England rugby match, and wine and negroni cocktails at the club. He said he could not recall the incidents and denied pestering the women to drink with him or asking personal questions.
Women's Accounts and Police Failings
The women told jurors they were left “shocked” after being grabbed, and one said she “froze” when her breasts were touched. In his police interview, Spencer called it a “moment of complete stupidity” but denied trying to “cop a feel.” He described himself as “over-friendly” and conceded: “Yeah, it looks terrible.” In court, he disputed that the CCTV showed two sexual assaults.
Spencer was identified by Groucho Club staff after allegations emerged, but a Metropolitan police officer failed to pursue the investigation and did not take statements from the women. Following a complaint that the investigation stalled, the Met conducted a review in early 2025, assigning a new detective who gathered statements and questioned the MP.
Commander Andy Day of the Met said: “We acknowledge that this investigation initially fell below the high standards we would expect, and we have apologised to the two women who made reports. Our priority remains tackling violence against women and girls, so women in London can have full confidence in the Met to investigate reports thoroughly and quickly.” The officer who failed to take witness statements was investigated but faced no disciplinary proceedings.
Aftermath
Following the verdict, the Conservative party restored the whip to Spencer, allowing him to sit as a Conservative MP.
