A GREENGROCER has had one charge of sexual assault overturned on appeal - but another three were upheld.
Raymond Grenfell, of 21 High Street, Crickhowell, was originally found guilty of four counts of sexual assault after a trial in Brecon Magistrates' Court in March, but appealed the verdicts at Merthyr Crown Court. The 70-year-old the former cub scout leader, described as as a "lovely man" and having a "friendly disposition" in character testimonials, made "lewd and inappropriate comments" to one of the victims, telling her he was "pleased" her breasts "are on show" and calling them a "lovely pair".Another victim said that pensioner made her "squirm" before one day "kissing his fingers and placing them on her breast" while "doing one of his dirty sighs".David Elias, defending the former parochial church council member , said that the complaints had been "blown out of all proportion" and that the victims were "not independent" and in fact knew each other. Married father-of-two Grenfell told the court he was a "tactile person" and thought it was okay to be "sexually suggestive" to customers "if they said it first". He continued to deny the offences and said it was a "complete fabrication".Judge Michael Fitton QC, sitting with two magistrates, decided that three of the victims were "honest and credible" witnesses and that they "did not accept the account given by Grenfell". Judge Fitton said the fourth witness was "weak" and that there were inconsistencies in her evidence.Grenfell’s original sentence of a community order with 150 hours' unpaid work was left to stand but £1,000 compensation awarded to the fourth witness must now be repaid to the appellant. He must sign the sex offenders' register for five years.