An MP who was accused of touching the breasts of two women at London’s Groucho Club has been found not guilty of sexual assault.
Patrick Spencer, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, had been accused of approaching both women, in separate incidents, and placing his hands on their breasts in August 2023.
The 38-year-old denied two counts of sexual assault and was found not guilty following a trial at Southwark Crown Court. He could be seen sobbing with relief and later hugging his wife as the verdicts were returned.
After the verdict, Spencer told reporters that he had “always maintained my innocence” and the verdict drew “a very long and challenging period in my life to a close”.
A jury of eight men and four women returned the verdict after seven hours and six minutes of deliberation.
Spencer was elected a Conservative MP in July 2024 and the party removed the whip in 2025 after he was charged with the offences, which means he now sits an Independent MP.
“I would like to thank the jury, the court, my legal team and most importantly, my incredible wife, children, family, friends and colleagues – whose support has been unwavering throughout,” Spencer said after the verdict.
