Tory MP Patrick Spencer found not guilty of Groucho Club sexual assaults
Patrick Spencer Acquitted of Groucho Club Sexual Assault Charges
A Night Out That Became a Legal Battle
Tory MP Patrick Spencer found not guilty - Conservative parliamentarian Patrick Spencer has been exonerated of allegations that he sexually assaulted two female acquaintances at London's prestigious Groucho Club. The MP maintained throughout the proceedings that his intentions were purely affectionate, asserting he simply wished to embrace the women. Video footage captured Spencer approaching the pair from behind and wrapping his arms around them during an evening outing in August 2023. This encounter occurred less than twelve months prior to his successful election campaign for the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich constituency.
At thirty-eight years of age, Spencer faced accusations that he had cupped the breasts of both women, whom he did not personally know, before making a celebratory fist-pumping motion toward his companions. During his initial police interview, the MP offered an apology for his actions, acknowledging that grabbing the women from behind was "not acceptable in this day and age." He characterized the episode as a "moment of complete stupidity" while simultaneously denying any attempt to "cop a feel."
The Courtroom Proceedings
Spencer's trial took place at Southwark crown court, where he presented a detailed defense of his behavior. He maintained that he had not made physical contact with one woman's breasts at all, while insisting that any touch with the second woman was entirely unintentional. Regarding the gesture he made after the second woman pushed him away, Spencer explained that his reaction stemmed from feeling "mortified" that she had rejected his hug, rather than any sense of triumph over having groped her.
The jury deliberated for just over seven hours before delivering their verdict on Friday. They found Spencer not guilty on both counts of sexual assault. As the verdicts were announced, the MP covered his face with trembling hands and broke down in tears before moving to embrace his wife, Anna, who sat beside him in the courtroom.
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.
Investigation Delays and Institutional Response
The case attracted attention not only for its outcome but also for the Metropolitan police's handling of the initial investigation. Spencer was identified by Groucho Club staff following the first sexual assault allegations, yet a Met officer failed to pursue the matter adequately and did not even obtain statements from the two women involved.
After receiving a complaint that the investigation had stalled, the Metropolitan police conducted a review in early 2025. A new detective was assigned to the case, who gathered statements and questioned the MP thoroughly. Commander Andy Day of the Met publicly acknowledged the shortcomings: "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."
The officer responsible for failing to take witness statements was investigated by the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards, though no disciplinary proceedings were ultimately brought against her. Commander Day emphasized that the force's priority remained tackling violence against women and girls, ensuring that women in London could have full confidence in the Met's ability to investigate reports thoroughly and quickly.
Personal Background and Testimony
Spencer, whose father Michael Spencer is a billionaire donor to the Conservative party, provided extensive testimony about his activities on the evening in question. He told the court that he had consumed red wine with his father during lunch, followed by beers at Twickenham while watching an England rugby match, and finished with wine and negroni cocktails at the members' club.
In his evidence, Spencer stated that he could not recall the specific incidents at the centre of the trial. He insisted that he would not have pestered the two women to have a drink with him and had only asked personal questions of one woman regarding her marriage. He called himself "over-friendly" and conceded to police that "Yeah, it looks terrible," though he maintained in court that he would never touch a woman's breasts without consent.
The two women testified that they were left "shocked" after being grabbed by Spencer. One described how she "froze" when, as she said, her breasts were touched. Spencer disputed whether the CCTV footage actually showed two sexual assaults had occurred.
Following the verdict, the Conservative party promptly restored the whip to Spencer, allowing him to resume his full parliamentary duties. The MP's legal team had argued consistently that his actions, while perhaps awkward or inappropriate, did not meet the threshold for sexual assault under the law.