An MP intentionally groped the breasts of two women at London’s Groucho Club without their consent, a court has heard.
Patrick Spencer, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, is accused of drunkenly coming up behind the women and putting his arms around them during a night out in August 2023.
Southwark Crown Court heard that neither of the women had met Spencer before and described him as being intoxicated before he came behind them and touched their breasts.
Spencer, who lives in Suffolk and was elected as an MP in July 2024, has denied two counts of sexual assault.
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Prosecutor Polly Dyer told jurors the incident happened on 12 August 2023 and that Spencer had “intentionally touched the breasts of two women, that it was sexual and without their consent”.
The incidents happened after guests at the club had heard a musical performance and were drinking in its Soho bar, the court heard.
The first victim said a man she did not know tried to start a conversation with her and was “insistent she had a drink despite her saying no several times”, Dyer said.
The court heard she had sipped on the drink he bought her “to appease him” and described the man as “animated” who had appeared to have been drinking.
She moved away from him, but they crossed paths again a short time later when she returned to the bar.
She did not wish to talk to him and turned her back to him.
“She will tell you the male put his hands under her arms and touched her breasts,” Dyer said.
“It took her completely by surprise, and she immediately moved away from him,” Dyer added.
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