Tory MP Patrick Spencer breaks down in tears as he is found not guilty of sexual assaults at Groucho Club in London
Tory MP Patrick Spencer breaks down in tears after Groucho Club verdict
Tory MP Patrick Spencer breaks down in tears as jurors delivered their verdict at Southwark Crown Court on Friday. The Conservative politician was found not guilty of two sexual assault charges related to incidents at the exclusive Groucho Club in London. Spencer, 38, who represents Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, covered his face with trembling hands before weeping openly. He then embraced his wife Anna, who had attended the proceedings throughout.
The Alleged Incidents at the Groucho Club
The case centered on events from August 12, 2023, when Tory MP Patrick Spencer breaks down in tears over allegations that he improperly touched two women. According to the accusations, Spencer approached both women from behind and wrapped his arms around them at the private members' club. Surveillance footage captured him making what appeared to be a celebratory fist-pumping gesture toward companions nearby.
The women told jurors they were left "shocked" after being grabbed by Mr Spencer, and one said she "froze" when she says her breasts were touched.
Spencer maintained that his intentions were purely friendly throughout. He claimed he simply wanted to offer the women a hug and was mortified when one pushed him away. The gesture he made afterward, he argued, was a reaction to feeling embarrassed by the rejection rather than any sense of triumph.
Police Investigation and Delays
One notable aspect involved the Metropolitan Police's initial handling of the case. Staff at the Groucho Club identified Tory MP Patrick Spencer breaks down in tears after the first allegations, but a police officer failed to pursue the matter adequately. The officer did not even obtain statements from the two women involved.
Met Police Commander Andy Day said: "We acknowledge that this investigation initially fell below the high standards we would expect, and we have apologised to the two women who made reports."
After complaints emerged about the stalled investigation, the Met launched a review in early 2025. A new detective was assigned to the case, who gathered statements and questioned Spencer. The review found that charges were authorized by the Crown Prosecution Service within three months of the leadership change.
Spencer's Personal Account
During his police interview, Spencer apologized for grabbing hold of two strangers and admitted his behavior was "not acceptable in this day and age." He described himself as "overfriendly" with a "gregarious" personality, conceding to officers: "Yeah, it looks terrible."
He told the court he could not recall the specific incidents at the center of the trial but insisted he would not have pestered the women to have a drink with him. Spencer's drinking that night was extensive—he had consumed red wine with his father at lunch, followed by beers at Twickenham while watching an England rugby match. At the Groucho Club itself, he drank wine and negroni cocktails.
When asked about being ejected from the members' club, Spencer said he was "surprised" but assumed it was because he was "being loud, clottish, knocked over someone's glass or I had bumped into somebody." He maintained that he would never touch a woman's breasts without consent and disputed whether the CCTV footage actually showed two sexual assaults.
Political Consequences
After being charged, Tory MP Patrick Spencer breaks down in tears was stripped of the Tory whip and sat in Parliament as an independent. Following the not guilty verdicts, the Conservative Party announced his reinstatement. The jury took just over seven hours to reach their decision on the two counts of sexual assault. Spencer, who is the son of Lord Michael Spencer—a billionaire donor to the Conservative Party—now faces no further legal action regarding these particular allegations.