Latest news with #GrouchoClub
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Patrick Spencer: Suspended Tory MP denies sexually assaulting two women at private members' club
An MP has denied two counts of sexual assault allegedly carried out at a private members' club in central London. Patrick Spencer, who represents Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, is accused of cupping the breasts of two women over their clothes at the Groucho Club in August 2023. The 37-year-old confirmed his full name and date of birth before pleading not guilty to the offences at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Politics Hub: He is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July. Spencer was suspended from the Conservative Party and had the whip withdrawn after the charges were brought. Read more from Sky News: The politician was first elected to parliament last year with a majority of 4,290. Lawyers acting for the MP have previously said he "categorically denies the charges" and would defend against the allegations "robustly in court". The Groucho Club, on Dean Street, opened in 1985 and became a renowned meeting place for A-list celebrities and others, including actors, comedians and media executives. The club was named after the comedian and actor Groucho Marx, who reportedly once said he would refuse to join any club that would have him as a member.
Sky News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Patrick Spencer: Suspended Tory MP denies sexually assaulting two women at private members' club
An MP has denied two counts of sexual assault allegedly carried out at a private members' club in central London. Patrick Spencer, who represents Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, is accused of cupping the breasts of two women over their clothes at the Groucho Club in August 2023. The 37-year-old confirmed his full name and date of birth before pleading not guilty to the offences at Westminster Magistrates' Court. He is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July. Spencer was suspended from the Conservative Party and had the whip withdrawn after the charges were brought. The politician was first elected to parliament last year with a majority of 4,290. Lawyers acting for the MP have previously said he "categorically denies the charges" and would defend against the allegations "robustly in court". The Groucho Club, on Dean Street, opened in 1985 and became a renowned meeting place for A-list celebrities and others, including actors, comedians and media executives. The club was named after the comedian and actor Groucho Marx, who reportedly once said he would refuse to join any club that would have him as a member.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Tory MP ‘cupped' two women's breasts at Groucho Club
Tory MP Patrick Spencer cupped the breasts of two women at London's Groucho Club, a court heard. The MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich is alleged to have carried out the assaults over their clothes at the Soho private members' club in August 2023. The 'intoxicated' 37-year-old left the women feeling 'uncomfortable' after asking about one of their marriages and trying to force both to have a drink with him, it was heard. Wearing a dark suit jacket with a white shirt and tie at Westminster Magistrates' Court, he spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth, before denying two counts of sexual assault. Polly Dyer, for the prosecution, told the court Mr Spencer 'appeared to be intoxicated' at the time of the offences on the two women. 'The first of the complainants report that at around 8pm the defendant insisted on buying her a drink,' she said. 'He made her feel uncomfortable asking about her marriage and trying to force her to have a drink. She felt it was inappropriate and walked away.' The court heard later that evening, at around midnight, Mr Spencer approached the same woman again and 'put his arms under her arms and cupped her breasts'. Ms Dyer said the woman was 'taken by surprise'. The court heard a similar incident happened with the second woman, who he 'insisted' should have a drink with him. Ms Dyer said she did not want to or enjoy the drink when it was brought to her, but took a few sips to be polite. However, he is then alleged to have moved back and cupped her breasts with his hands, leaving her 'shocked and embarrassed'. At the short hearing, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ordered Mr Spencer to appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 14. He warned him that a warrant would be issued for his arrest if he failed to attend. Last month, Mr Spencer was suspended by the Conservative Party after being charged with the offences and asked not to attend the parliamentary estate while police enquiries were ongoing. The Metropolitan Police said at the time that he had voluntarily taken part in an interview at a London police station. He was elected as MP of his constituency last July, with a majority of 4,290, but he now sits as an independent following the removal of the whip.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Conservative MP denies Groucho Club sex attack on two women on the same night
Conservative MP Patrick Spencer has today denied sexually assaulting two women on the same night at the exclusive Groucho Club in Soho. The 37-year-old appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court accused of 'cupping' the two alleged victims' breasts on 12 August 2023. Wearing a smart blue suit, green tie, and thick-rimmed black glasses, the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich stood in the dock to confirm his name and date of birth. The two charges of sexual assault allege he 'intentionally touched a woman aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when she did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that she was consenting'. He pleaded not guilty to both charges. Prosecutor Polly Dyer told the court Spencer was present at the Groucho Club that night with the two alleged victims. Spencer elected to be tried by a jury and he was bailed ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July. Lawyers acting for the MP have previously said he 'categorically denies the charges' against him, adding: 'He has co-operated fully with the police investigation from the moment he became aware of it and he will defend the allegations robustly in court.' Spencer had worked in finance for private equity firm IPGL, a company chaired by his father, former Conservative Party treasurer Lord Michael Spencer. Frank Ferguson, head of the special crime and counter terrorism division at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), earlier said: 'Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service, we have authorised two counts of sexual assault against Patrick Spencer MP. 'The charges follow two alleged incidents involving two separate women at the Groucho Club in central London in August 2023.' He was interviewed by police earlier this year after a complaint about his behaviour was made to the private members club. Spencer was elected to Parliament at the general election last year with a majority of 4,290. The Groucho is a private members' club in Soho's Dean Street. It opened in 1985 and became a well-known haunt of celebrities and media figures. Spencer elected to be tried by a jury and he was bailed ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July Spencer, who lives in Suffolk with his family, was suspended from the Conservatives following the news of the charges. He is now listed as an independent on the UK Parliament website. He made his maiden speech in the Commons in July last year during a debate on the MPs' code of conduct relating to second jobs, during which he said the 'most important thing to the people across my constituency' was 'restoring a sense of moral probity and public spiritedness to our political system'. Spencer made an application to have his home address withheld from the court which Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring granted. MPs face being barred from attending Parliament if they are arrested for serious sexual or violent offences after changes last year.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Suspended Conservative MP Patrick Spencer denies two counts of sexual assault
Suspended Tory MP Patrick Spencer has denied two counts of sexual assault allegedly carried out at central London's Groucho club. Spencer, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, allegedly cupped the breasts of two women over their clothes at the famous private members' club on an evening in August 2023. The 37-year-old appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday, where he confirmed his full name – Michael Patrick Spencer – and date of birth before pleading not guilty to the offences. Prosecutor Polly Dyer told the court that the first complainant 'felt Mr Spencer put his arms under her arms' before he 'cupped her breasts over the clothing'. Of the second complainant, the prosecutor alleged 'he moved behind her and also cupped her breasts with his hands over clothing'. Ms Dyer added that neither woman consented to the alleged touching. The court heard a complaint was made to the Groucho Club and a report made to the police, with Spencer interviewed by officers earlier this year. He is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 14. Lawyers acting for the MP have previously said he 'categorically denies the charges' against him, adding: 'He has co-operated fully with the police investigation from the moment he became aware of it and he will defend the allegations robustly in court.' The politician, who lives in Suffolk, was suspended from the Conservative Party and had the whip withdrawn after the charges were brought. Spencer was first elected to Parliament last year with a majority of 4,290. Prior to entering Parliament, he worked in finance for private equity firm IPGL, a company chaired by his father, former Conservative Party treasurer Lord Michael Spencer. He later took a job at the Centre for Social Justice think thank and then becoming a senior adviser at the Department for Education. He made his maiden speech in the Commons in July last year during a debate on the MPs' code of conduct relating to second jobs, during which he said the 'most important thing to the people across my constituency' was 'restoring a sense of moral probity and public spiritedness to our political system'. Spencer made an application to have his home address withheld from the court which Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring granted.
