MP accused of sexual assault at London nightclub denies 'fist pumping in celebration' after alleged groping

An MP accused of sexually assaulting two women at a nightclub in London denied "fist pumping in celebration" after one of the alleged gropes.

Former Conservative, Patrick Spencer, told police he was sorry for a "moment of complete stupidity" at the the Groucho Club in Soho, a court heard.

The 38-year-old is said to have come up behind two women during a night out at the private members club in August 2023 and "cupped" their breasts.

The MP - who had the whip withdrawn by the Tories in May last year and sits as an independent - denies the offences said to have taken place while he was a guest at the venue.

On Wednesday, Southwark Crown Court heard the Metropolitan Police questioned Spencer over complaints he grabbed the women from behind and groped their breasts.

The court heard he was shown CCTV footage of the incidents, and denied trying to "cop a feel".

"I don't think it's appropriate to approach someone from behind," he told the officers. "I don't think it's appropriate to put my hands on someone unless you have a very close relationship with them.

Spencer, who elected for the Conservative Party in 2024 to represent Central Suffolk and North Ipswich in 2024, then described himself as "overfriendly", "gregarious" and "huggy", but conceded to police his actions "look leery" and "terrible".

He said he "misinterpreted" how he could behave with the women while denying sexual intent, and added: "I can only imagine how upsetting it clearly was and is.

"It's a moment of complete stupidity on my behalf...I'm profoundly sorry to the two women and to anyone involved in this."

CCTV also showed that after one of the alleged assaults, Spencer was seen making a hand gesture with his fist in the direction of his group of friends.

In the police interview, he said: "I suppose you could look at it as a sort of boorish, laddish hand movement."

Prosecutor Polly Dyer suggested to Spencer as he gave evidence in court that it would be seen as "like a fist pump in celebration", but the MP said he disagreed.

Asked about the gesture, he argued it happened when the woman had pushed his arms away and he was "embarrassed and surprised".

In the witness box, he told the jury that his behaviour that night with the women had been "wildly misjudged" and said it was "ultimately inappropriate to hug someone in that way, in that context".

Giving evidence, Spencer said he had lunch with his father, billionaire Conservative donor Lord Michael Spencer, before watching England v Wales at Twickenham on the day of the incident.

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He told the court he drank wine during the meal and beers watching rugby, and assessed himself as "pissed". He added: "When I walked into the Groucho, I was fine, in high spirits, merry, but not out of control."

He said he returned to the Groucho the following week for his aunt's 70th birthday celebration and collected the jacket he had left behind the night he was ejected.

Eleanor Laws KC, defending the MP, asked him: "Did you deliberately place your hands on either woman? Did you intend to sexually assault anyone?"

Spencer answered "no" to both questions.

It comes after one of the alleged victims told jurors on Tuesday that she "froze" after feeling her breasts being touched, while the other said she was left in shock.

The two alleged victims told the court Spencer had been "insistent" that they have a drink with him, and one called him a "pest".

Spencer pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault. The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: MP accused of sexual assault at London nightclub denies 'fist pumping in celebration