Suffolk MP Patrick Spencer denies sexual assault at London club
A recently elected UK parliamentarian is on trial for allegedly groping two women, a case that threatens to trigger a by-election and disrupt Westminster's focus on economic governance.
Patrick Spencer, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, is standing trial at Southwark Crown Court accused of sexually assaulting two women at a central London venue in August 2023. Spencer, 38, who was elected in July 2024, denies two counts of sexual assault.
The court heard that Spencer approached the first woman from behind, threaded his arms through hers, and placed a hand on each of her breasts. "I was shocked, I carried on walking, I wanted to get away," she told the jury. When asked if she had consented, she replied: "Not at all."
The woman testified that Spencer had previously acted as "a bit of a pest," repeatedly invading her personal space and insisting she drink one of the four cocktails he had ordered despite her refusals. She said she only took a sip because "I felt I could not walk away unless I took a sip of the drink."
A second victim told the jury that a similarly aggressive incident occurred moments later. "He came up behind me, grabbed my breasts," she said, stating that she "froze" because his hands were "forceful" and she could not move until she pushed him away. She described Spencer as "inebriated" and said he had also pestered her to try a drink.
Impact on British public life
For European observers, the trial highlights the ongoing turbulence in British politics, where standards in public office remain under intense scrutiny. A conviction for Spencer would immediately force a by-election, pulling national party resources away from legislative priorities and economic strategy at a time when the UK government is attempting to reset its relationship with the continent.
Spencer’s defence counsel, Eleanor Laws, challenged the prosecution's account by suggesting the contact was fleeting, asking one witness if she agreed he had "barely" touched her. The witness rejected this, noting she would not have known it happened unless she had been touched. While Spencer reportedly told police after the incident that his behaviour was "not appropriate for this day and age," his formal defence is that he did not touch either woman. The trial continues.
