Tory MP Patrick Spencer groped breasts of two women at London's Groucho club after pestering them to have a drink with him, court hears

By OLIVIA DAY, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA Published: 16:35, 13 July 2026 | Updated: 16:39, 13 July 2026 A Tory MP drunkenly groped the breasts of two women after pestering them to have a drink with him at London's exclusive Groucho club, a court has heard.  Patrick Spencer, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, is accused of approaching the women during a night out at a private members' club in Soho before wrapping his arms around them and touching their breasts without consent.  Southwark Crown Court heard the women did not know who Spencer was at the time but later identified the 38-year-old using his profile picture on Parliament's website.  Jurors were told the women were left shocked by their alleged encounters with the MP, who had been visiting the club as a guest on August 12, 2023.  Spencer, who was elected as a Conservative MP in the 2024 general election while the allegations were still under investigation, denies two counts of sexual assault. Opening the case, prosecutor Polly Dyer said guests had been attending a musical performance before gathering in the club's bar area for drinks. The first woman told the court a man she did not know repeatedly tried to strike up a conversation and insisted on buying her a drink despite her repeated refusals.  Ms Dyer said the woman eventually took a sip of the drink 'to appease him'. Tory MP Patrick Spencer (pictured arriving to court on Monday) has been charged with two counts of sexual assault allegedly carried out at London's Groucho club in August 2023 Spencer (left) was suspended from the Conservative Party and had the whip withdrawn The alleged incidents occurred at London's Groucho club (pictured) on August 12, 2023 The court heard the man appeared animated and had seemingly been drinking.  Although the woman moved away from him, they later crossed paths again at the bar. Ms Dyer said: 'The same male tried to talk to her again. She didn't want to talk to him and she had her back to him. 'She will tell you the male put his hands under her arms and touched her breasts. 'It took her completely by surprise, and she immediately moved away from him.' The court heard the second woman was allegedly assaulted a short time later after another unwanted interaction with the same man.  The prosecutor said the woman also considered the man to be drunk, telling jurors he was unsteady on his feet and slurring his words. She also accepted a drink in the hope he would leave her alone, the court heard. Patrick Spencer, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, is accused of approaching the women during the night out touching their breasts without consent (he is pictured at court) The Groucho club is a private members' club in Soho which attracts A-list clientele Ms Dyer said: 'She will tell you at one point the male approached her from behind, reached his arms around her, and placed both his hands on top of her breasts. 'She was taken aback and peeled his hands from her.' Jurors were told the women later compared their experiences with the man and realised they both had similar encounters with him. Spencer was confronted at the bar and left the club with a friend, the court heard. While police were first notified in August 2023, the alleged suspect was not identified until about a year later in the middle of 2024.  Spencer was later suspended by the Conservative Party and had the party whip withdrawn after he was charged with two counts of sexual assault. Removing the whip means Spencer sits in Parliament as an independent MP.  When announcing the decision, a Conservative Party spokesman said: 'The Conservative Party believes in integrity and high standards.  'We have taken immediate action. Patrick Spencer MP has been suspended from the Conservative Party, and the whip withdrawn, with immediate effect.' Spencer (pictured arriving at court) was first interviewed by police in March this year, about 19 months after the alleged incidents at the Groucho Club Jurors were told a member of Groucho staff reviewed CCTV footage and matched the man's arrival at the club with Spencer's details in the venue's sign-in records. Ms Dyer said the Metropolitan Police officer initially investigating the allegations failed to realise Spencer's name had been supplied by the club and did not pursue inquiries as quickly as he could have. As a result, the women were not asked to provide formal statements until early 2025. Spencer was first interviewed by police in March this year, about 19 months after the alleged incidents at the Groucho Club.  He told officers he had attended the club with four friends and stayed for around two hours before being asked to leave because he had upset other guests. Spencer admitted hugging a friend from behind and said he had similarly put his arms around the two women because he had mistakenly thought they were members of the same group. The court heard he accepted his actions were inappropriate 'in this day and age'.  Ms Dyer told the court: 'He described his behaviour as being overfriendly but without any intent to upset anyone.  'He said he had been drunk but not out of control. 'When told that the complainants alleged he had touched their breasts he said he was appalled that that's what happened, and it was inappropriate behaviour. 'He said it was not his intent to touch them inappropriately.' However, the prosecutor told jurors Spencer's defence is that he did not touch either woman's breasts at all. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.