MP found not guilty of sexually assaulting women
British MP Patrick Spencer has been found not guilty of sexual assault charges following a trial at Southwark Crown Court. The jury reached the verdict after deliberating for over seven hours regarding incidents alleged to have occurred at a London club in 2023.
Why it matters
The case highlights the intersection of high-profile political figures and the legal system, specifically regarding allegations of misconduct.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Patrick Spencer sits as an Independent MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich and had been on trial at Southwark Crown Court
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".
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