Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Patrick Spencer has been charged with two counts of sexual assault which allegedly happened at central London’s Groucho Club in August 2023
Patrick Spencer, the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP, has been charged (Image: Laurie Noble Photography)
A Tory MP has been charged with two counts of sexual assault which allegedly happened at a central London private members club.
The Crown Prosecution Service said on Tuesday that Patrick Spencer, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, had been charged following two alleged incidents at the Groucho Club in August 2023.
The politician, who was first elected to Parliament last year with a majority of 4,290, has been suspended from the Conservative Party and has lost the whip. It is understood that Mr Spencer, who has a wife and two sons, was asked not to attend the parliamentary estate by the Chief Whip whilst police inquiries were ongoing.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS special crime and counter-terrorism division, said the allegations involved two separate women. Spencer, 37, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 16.
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Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party suspended Patrick Spencer with immediate effect (Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
Mr Ferguson added: “The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “The Conservative Party believes in integrity and high standards. We have taken immediate action. Patrick Spencer MP has been suspended from the Conservative Party, and the whip withdrawn, with immediate effect. The Conservative Party cannot comment further on an ongoing legal case.”
The Groucho Club was last year forced to close for a period. Its licence was reviewed after an alleged rape at the site in November. The incident is not connected to Mr Spencer’s case.
The premises reopened in December with new conditions between the police and the management, including members being limited to inviting four guests to the club. At the time, Gary Grant, representing the Met Police, raised three concerns about the club.
“Firstly, lax procedures on the admission of members and guests and the recording of who was in their premises,” he said. “Secondly, insufficient welfare training and procedures that required improvement. Thirdly, the inadequacy of the supervision of the toilet areas.”
Mirror Online