Raymond Grenfell of Crickhowell, Powys denies allegations made against him by four women
A shopkeeper groped four female customers and told one of them he wanted to photograph her naked, a court has heard.
Raymond Grenfell of Crickhowell, Powys, denies four counts of sexual assault.
Brecon Magistrates Court was told how the married 69 year old was dubbed “Grabber Grenfell” by shoppers at his grocery store in the mid Wales town.
Grenfell is accused of touching, kissing, and making inappropriate comments towards four women who used his convenience store, but claims to have engaged in nothing more than “just friendly banter.”
'I felt dirty'
The defendant, who also worked as a Cub Scout leader, is accused of sexually assaulting four women in their 30s and 40s by grabbing them by their breasts, their waist, kissing them on the lips, and begging them to take their clothes off.
One of the women, who cannot be named, told Brecon Magistrates Court: “I stood at the door but he told me to come inside.
“When I walked up to the desk his hands came up towards my breasts and he touched them.
“It was a firm touch, not an accidental brush. He looked like a dirty old man taking advantage. There was joy on his face.
“I felt dirty, shocked and stunned.”
'Shocked'
Another woman said: “If I was buying anything he would ask me things like whether I had anyone to lather me up in the bath.
“I was never comfortable around him. If there was any opportunity for him to grab you around the waist or give you a kiss he would.
“He used to say, ‘I want to take nude photos of you’. He also said he’d like to make love to me.
“Then in his shop as I was paying he kissed his fingers and put them on my right breast, skin to skin. I was so shocked I didn’t say anything back to him.”
'Clever man'
The woman broke down as she described Grenfell as a “clever man” who picked his opportunities to touch women and pass it off as being affectionate.
“We all called him ‘Grabber Grenfell’.” she added.
A third woman said the defendant, who was also a church warden and a school governor, groped her at the town hall used by the scouts.
She said: “We made small talk, and he asked if I had a husband, and I told him I didn’t.
“He asked me to lift my shirt up and I said no.
“He dropped to his knees and said ‘please, please, you excite me’, so I told him to leave.
“He asked to have a kiss before he went. I wanted him out so I offered my cheek, and he lunged forward and grabbed me by the waist and by my breast.”
'I felt disgusted'
The fourth woman said she was trying to get past Grenfell in his narrow shop when he told her: “I’m not going to move, I want to feel your breasts on my back.”
Describing a separate occasion when the defendant asked her for a kiss, the woman said: “I offered my cheek because I didn’t want to offend him.
“He kissed me but then said he wanted a proper one.
“He went forward and kissed me on the lips, and said ‘That’s lovely, let’s have another one’.
“He kissed me on the lips again and I was in complete shock. I felt disgusted. I collected my things and said I had to go.
“He followed me out the door and was saying how beautiful I was. I couldn’t stop wiping my lips and couldn’t wait to get back home.”
'Popular shopkeeper'
The allegations against Grenfell are said to have occurred between 2007 and 2014.
All four women say they kept the alleged attacks secret because they feared they wouldn’t be believed over the “popular” shopkeeper, who had been a prominent resident in Crickhowell for 40 years.
It was only after the women found out about each other’s experience that they decided to contact police.
Kevin Challinor, prosecuting, said Grenfell told police he was a “tactile person” and his behaviour was “normal”.
Mr Challinor said: “He told officers flirting is a way of being friendly with customers. He said it’s good for business and is pleasant.”
David Elias, defending Grenfell, denied his client had touched any of the women for his own sexual gratification, and said his behaviour had just been “banter.”
Mr Elias said: “He says he often hugs and kisses people. It’s playful and just friendly banter.”
Married Grenfell, of Crickhowell, Powys, denies four counts of sexual assault.
The trial at Brecon Magistrates has been adjourned.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/local-grocer-accused-sexual-assault-10911147
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