MP Accused of Sexually Assaulting Two Women at Private London Club

An MP intentionally groped the breasts of two women at London’s Groucho Club without their consent, a court has heard.

Patrick Spencer, the Member of Parliament for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, is accused of drunkenly approaching the women from behind and putting his arms around them during a night out in August 2023.

Southwark Crown Court heard that neither woman had met Spencer before the incident and described him as appearing intoxicated when he touched their breasts.

Spencer, who resides in Suffolk and was elected to Parliament in July 2024, has denied two counts of sexual assault.

Prosecutor Polly Dyer told jurors the incident occurred on 12 August 2023, stating that Spencer “intentionally touched the breasts of two women, that it was sexual and without their consent.”

The alleged assaults took place after guests at the club had heard a musical performance and were drinking in its Soho bar, the court heard.

The first victim said a man she did not know tried to start a conversation with her and was “insistent she had a drink despite her saying no several times,” Dyer said.

The court heard she had sipped the drink he bought her “to appease him” and described the man as “animated” and appearing to have been drinking.

She moved away from him, but they crossed paths again a short time later when she returned to the bar. She did not wish to speak with him and turned her back.

“She will tell you the male put his hands under her arms and touched her breasts,” Dyer said. “It took her completely by surprise, and she immediately moved away from him,” Dyer added.

Source link