A Crickhowell greengrocer dubbed ‘Grabber Grenfell’ was last week ordered to pay £1,000 compensation each to four women he was convicted of groping in his shop.

Raymond Grenfell, 69, was found guilty at Brecon Magistrates’ Court of four sexual assaults on women who frequented his store in Crickhowell.

Grenfell claimed his touching, kissing and sexual innuendo towards the four women was just ‘friendly banter’, but he was branded a ‘wicked and evil’ man who ‘picked his opportunities’ after the guilty verdict was read out.

The court also heard how Grenfell offered one victim a chance to feature in a nude calendar, which he denied had ‘The Sun’ newspaper-style connotations.

Grenfell told magistrates and a packed court that his hugging and kissing was ‘normal’ and simply his way of greeting customers at his Grenfell and Son grocery store.

The grandfather of four even claimed customers enjoyed his flirtatious behaviour, saying ‘it’s part of the service.’

“I’m a tactile man. I often greet people with a hug, a kiss to the cheek, and there are some people who like a kiss on the lips. People even do it to me.

“It isn’t sexual, it’s affection. It’s a way of greeting people,” he said.

But Grenfell was convicted of the assaults after the court heard he used his position as a ‘pillar of the community’ to hide his ‘inappropriate behaviour’.

Grenfell sexually assaulted four women in their 30s and 40s by kissing them on the lips, grabbing their breasts and made inappropriate sexual remarks.

Kevin Challinor, prosecuting, said, ”You tried to hide it under the cloak of a laugh and a joke. But you were trying to press your unwanted advances on these ladies.”

District Judge Parsons said Grenfell was ‘highly thought of’ and ‘worked industrious long hours for the local community for no reward’ but used his position to shield his actions.

The court heard Grenfell was ‘larger than life’ and an ‘immensely important’ part of his community in Crickhowell.

One of the women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court Grenfell groped her breasts when she was collecting paperwork from his office at his local shop.

“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.”

The court heard Mr Grenfell made remarks such as ‘that’s a nice pair you’ve got’, and other sexual innuendoes.

Another woman said Grenfell appeared ‘very helpful and cheery’ when they first met, but soon began to make inappropriate comments towards her.

She said, “He would ask me whether I had anyone to lather me up in the bath tonight. ??“I was never comfortable around him. Any opportunity for him to grab you or give you a kiss, he would.”

“As I was paying [for goods] in his shop, he kissed his fingers and put them on my right breast. It was skin to skin. I was so shocked I didn’t say anything to him. This wasn’t banter. It wasn’t welcome.”

The woman also alleged that Grenfell would often say he’d like to make love to her.

“We all called him ‘Grabber Grenfell’, she added

A third woman accused Grenfell of groping her at a building used by the scouts.

She said after making ‘general chat’, Mr Grenfell asked if she was married.

“He asked me what was protruding from my shirt. And I told him it was a bellybutton piercing. He asked me to lift up my t-shirt.

“He dropped to his knees and said ‘please, please, you excite me’.

A fourth woman said she was trying to pass Grenfell in his narrow shop when he said, “I’m not going to move. I’d like to feel your breasts on my back.”

The women said they kept the attacks, which occurred between 2007 and 2014, because they feared they wouldn’t be believed over the ‘popular shopkeeper’.

Judge David Parsons said, “It’s clear you have very little respect for women and a complete disregard for the feelings of women in your community. Your behaviour has caused enormous distress to people.”

Married Grenfell was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to each of his victims, plus £750 court costs and £60 victim surcharge. Grenfell was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

He must sign the sex offenders’ register for five years.