Latest news with #CentralSuffolk
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Patrick Spencer: Suspended Tory MP denies sexually assaulting two women at private members' club
An MP has denied two counts of sexual assault allegedly carried out at a private members' club in central London. Patrick Spencer, who represents Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, is accused of cupping the breasts of two women over their clothes at the Groucho Club in August 2023. The 37-year-old confirmed his full name and date of birth before pleading not guilty to the offences at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Politics Hub: He is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July. Spencer was suspended from the Conservative Party and had the whip withdrawn after the charges were brought. Read more from Sky News: The politician was first elected to parliament last year with a majority of 4,290. Lawyers acting for the MP have previously said he "categorically denies the charges" and would defend against the allegations "robustly in court". The Groucho Club, on Dean Street, opened in 1985 and became a renowned meeting place for A-list celebrities and others, including actors, comedians and media executives. The club was named after the comedian and actor Groucho Marx, who reportedly once said he would refuse to join any club that would have him as a member.
Sky News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Patrick Spencer: Suspended Tory MP denies sexually assaulting two women at private members' club
An MP has denied two counts of sexual assault allegedly carried out at a private members' club in central London. Patrick Spencer, who represents Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, is accused of cupping the breasts of two women over their clothes at the Groucho Club in August 2023. The 37-year-old confirmed his full name and date of birth before pleading not guilty to the offences at Westminster Magistrates' Court. He is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July. Spencer was suspended from the Conservative Party and had the whip withdrawn after the charges were brought. The politician was first elected to parliament last year with a majority of 4,290. Lawyers acting for the MP have previously said he "categorically denies the charges" and would defend against the allegations "robustly in court". The Groucho Club, on Dean Street, opened in 1985 and became a renowned meeting place for A-list celebrities and others, including actors, comedians and media executives. The club was named after the comedian and actor Groucho Marx, who reportedly once said he would refuse to join any club that would have him as a member.
Telegraph
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Tory MP ‘cupped' two women's breasts at Groucho Club
Tory MP Patrick Spencer cupped the breasts of two women at London's Groucho Club, a court heard. The MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich is alleged to have carried out the assaults over their clothes at the Soho private members' club in August 2023. The 'intoxicated' 37-year-old left the women feeling 'uncomfortable' after asking about one of their marriages and trying to force both to have a drink with him, it was heard. Wearing a dark suit jacket with a white shirt and tie at Westminster Magistrates' Court, he spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth, before denying two counts of sexual assault. Polly Dyer, for the prosecution, told the court Mr Spencer 'appeared to be intoxicated' at the time of the offences on the two women. 'The first of the complainants report that at around 8pm the defendant insisted on buying her a drink,' she said. 'He made her feel uncomfortable asking about her marriage and trying to force her to have a drink. She felt it was inappropriate and walked away.' The court heard later that evening, at around midnight, Mr Spencer approached the same woman again and 'put his arms under her arms and cupped her breasts'. Ms Dyer said the woman was 'taken by surprise'. The court heard a similar incident happened with the second woman, who he 'insisted' should have a drink with him. Ms Dyer said she did not want to or enjoy the drink when it was brought to her, but took a few sips to be polite. However, he is then alleged to have moved back and cupped her breasts with his hands, leaving her 'shocked and embarrassed'. At the short hearing, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ordered Mr Spencer to appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 14. He warned him that a warrant would be issued for his arrest if he failed to attend. Last month, Mr Spencer was suspended by the Conservative Party after being charged with the offences and asked not to attend the parliamentary estate while police enquiries were ongoing. The Metropolitan Police said at the time that he had voluntarily taken part in an interview at a London police station. He was elected as MP of his constituency last July, with a majority of 4,290, but he now sits as an independent following the removal of the whip.
The Independent
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Tory MP pleads not guilty to sexual assault at London's Groucho Club
A Tory MP has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault at London's Groucho Club. Patrick Spencer, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, allegedly cupped the breasts of two women over their clothes at the famous private members' club on an evening in August 2023. He has been suspended from the Conservative Party and had the whip withdrawn over the charges. When the charges were made public last month, Mr Spencer 'categorically denied' the allegations against him and vowed to defend them 'robustly' in court. Mr Spencer is the son of Michael Spencer, a billionaire Conservative peer and founder of finance firm NEX Group. Lord Spencer was Tory treasurer between 2006 and 2007, having donated millions of pounds to the party, and was awarded a peerage by Boris Johnson in 2020. Mr Spencer was first elected to Parliament last year with a majority of 4,290. Prior to entering Parliament, he worked in finance for a private equity firm chaired by his father, IPGL. He later took a job at the Centre for Social Justice think tank, founded by the former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith and then became a senior adviser at the Department for Education. He made his maiden speech in the Commons in July last year during a debate on the MPs' code of conduct relating to second jobs, during which he said the "most important thing to the people across my constituency" was "restoring a sense of moral probity and public spiritedness to our political system". He had been told by Tory whips to stay away from the parliamentary estate while inquiries were ongoing. The 37-year-old, from Suffolk, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court, where he confirmed his name and date of birth before pleading not guilty to the offences.
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Suffolk MP Patrick Spencer pleads not guilty to sexual assault
An MP has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault that allegedly took place at London's Groucho Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Patrick Spencer is accused of two attacks on two separate women in August 2023 - before he was 37-year-old, who became a Conservative MP at the 2024 general election, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
