12 hours ago
Conservative MP denies Groucho Club sex attack on two women on the same night
Conservative MP Patrick Spencer has today denied sexually assaulting two women on the same night at the exclusive Groucho Club in Soho.
The 37-year-old appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court accused of 'cupping' the two alleged victims' breasts on 12 August 2023.
Wearing a smart blue suit, green tie, and thick-rimmed black glasses, the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich stood in the dock to confirm his name and date of birth.
The two charges of sexual assault allege he 'intentionally touched a woman aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when she did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that she was consenting'.
He pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Prosecutor Polly Dyer told the court Spencer was present at the Groucho Club that night with the two alleged victims.
Spencer elected to be tried by a jury and he was bailed ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July.
Lawyers acting for the MP have previously said he 'categorically denies the charges' against him, adding: 'He has co-operated fully with the police investigation from the moment he became aware of it and he will defend the allegations robustly in court.'
Spencer had worked in finance for private equity firm IPGL, a company chaired by his father, former Conservative Party treasurer Lord Michael Spencer.
Frank Ferguson, head of the special crime and counter terrorism division at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), earlier said: 'Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service, we have authorised two counts of sexual assault against Patrick Spencer MP.
'The charges follow two alleged incidents involving two separate women at the Groucho Club in central London in August 2023.'
He was interviewed by police earlier this year after a complaint about his behaviour was made to the private members club.
Spencer was elected to Parliament at the general election last year with a majority of 4,290.
The Groucho is a private members' club in Soho's Dean Street. It opened in 1985 and became a well-known haunt of celebrities and media figures.
Spencer elected to be tried by a jury and he was bailed ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July
Spencer, who lives in Suffolk with his family, was suspended from the Conservatives following the news of the charges.
He is now listed as an independent on the UK Parliament website.
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'.
Spencer made an application to have his home address withheld from the court which Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring granted.
MPs face being barred from attending Parliament if they are arrested for serious sexual or violent offences after changes last year.
