MP Patrick Spencer was emotional as a jury acquitted him of allegations of sexually assaulting two women at London’s Groucho Club. The 38-year-old Conservative MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich claimed he only intended to hug the women. The incident, captured on video, showed Spencer putting his arms around the women at the private club during an outing in August 2023.
Accused of inappropriate behavior towards the women, Spencer admitted during a police interview that his actions were not acceptable. However, in court, he maintained that he did not touch one woman’s breasts and the contact with the other was accidental.
Following a seven-hour deliberation, the jury found Spencer not guilty of the charges. He was visibly relieved by the verdict, breaking down in tears and embracing his wife Anna. Spencer, son of billionaire Conservative Party donor Lord Michael Spencer, emphasized that the incidents occurred before his election to Parliament.
Although Spencer acknowledged being overfriendly, he denied intentionally touching the women inappropriately. The Metropolitan Police faced criticism for their initial handling of the case but later reviewed and pursued the investigation, leading to Spencer’s trial.
Spencer’s wife provided supportive testimony in court, praising his character and parenting skills. He had temporarily lost his Conservative Party membership due to the allegations but continued to serve as an independent MP until the trial’s conclusion.