MP found not guilty of sexually assaulting women

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: MP found not guilty of sexually assaulting womenImage source, PA MediaImage caption, Patrick Spencer sits as an Independent MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich and had been on trial at Southwark Crown CourtByAlice CunninghamSouthwark Crown CourtPublished17 July 2026, 16:24 BSTUpdated 2 minutes agoAn 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.

The Details

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. Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Spencer seen arriving earlier as the jury considered its verdictThe trial heard how Spencer had been on a night out with friends at the Groucho Club on 12 August 2023, prior to him becoming an MP.

He told the jury he had been drunk, but not out of control and CCTV from the evening showed him staggering through the venue. It was alleged on separate occasions he had started conversation with two women he did not know and insisted they have a drink he had bought. The prosecution said he had then come up behind each woman and placed his hands on their breasts.

But Spencer said he could not recall the incidents and he insisted that he would not have pestered the two women to have a drink with him or asked personal questions of one about her marriage. One of the women described to the jury how she had "froze" after the incident while the other said she had been "mortified". Spencer told the court that he had not touched the breasts of one of the women, while contact with the other had been accidental and unintentional.

The trial also heard that Spencer had made a fist-hand gesture after touching one of the women and which was caught on CCTV. The prosecution put to Spencer that it had appeared to look celebratory, but Spencer told the jury he had been embarrassed and made the gesture after the woman pushed him away.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.