A Crickhowell shopkeeper fondled four female customers and invited one of them to appear nude in a calendar, a court heard last week.

Raymond Grenfell, 69, was nicknamed ‘Grabber Grenfell’ by shoppers at his local grocery store in Crickhowell because of his alleged ‘tactile’ conduct.

Grenfell appeared at Brecon Magistrates on Wednesday February 16 accused of touching and kissing four women, but claims his conduct was ‘flirting’.

The court heard Grenfell, who is alleged to have often made inappropriate sexual remarks, was a ‘tactile man’ who often embraced locals with hugs and kisses when he greeted them.

Grenfell, who worked as a Scout Leader, is accused of sexually assaulting four women by grabbing their breasts, kissing them on the lips and making offers of a sexual nature. The alleged incidents occurred between 2007 and 2014.

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 taking enjoyment out of touching.

“I felt dirty, shocked, stunned. I grabbed the papers and ran out.”

The court heard Grenfell was alleged to make remarks such as ‘that’s a nice pair you’ve got’, and other sexual innuendoes.

Another woman said Grenfell, a church warden and school governor, 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.

The tearful woman welled-up as she described Grenfell as an opportunist and ‘clever man’ who ‘picked his opportunities’ to grope women.

“We all called him ‘Grabber Grenfell’,” she told the court.

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

She said after making ‘general chat’, 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’.” She then told him to leave.

The woman alleged Grenfell then said ‘just give me a kiss before I go’.

“I wanted him out, so I offered my cheek. He lunged forward and grabbed me by the waist and my breasts,” she said.

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.”

A couple of months later, the woman alleged Grenfell asked her for a kiss as she bought groceries in his store.

“I offered my cheek, as I didn’t want to offend him. He kissed me on the cheek. He then said ‘Oh, no, a proper one’. He went forward and kissed me on the lips again. I was in total shock. I felt disgusted.

“I wouldn’t say it was a peck. It was quite more than that.??“He followed me out of the door and said how beautiful I was. I couldn’t stop wiping my lips.”

The four women say they kept the alleged attacks to themselves as Grenfell was a ‘prominent’ local figure, and felt their allegations would not be believed.

David Elias, defending Grenfell, said his client ‘was someone who liked a bit of banter. He pays compliments to a lot of people. He often hugs and kisses people.’

Kevin Challinor, prosecuting, told the court Grenfell said in his police statement he was a ‘tactile person’ and his flirtatious nature was ‘pleasant and good for business’.

Married Grenfell, of Crickhowell, denies four counts of sexual assault.

The trial was adjourned and will resume on March 11.