A shopworker has been spared jail on Monday after leaving two women customers shocked by his alleged sexual advances.

Stephen David Jones, 59, had hugged and groped a 33-year-old woman who’d gone to Bevans, a home and garden supplies store in High Street, Denbigh, to buy some paint, a district judge at Llandudno court heard.

Prosecutor James Neary said Jones had appeared helpful and handed the woman some masking tape. But he’d told the woman her eyes were “very beautiful” and asked her: "Have you got a fella?” He asked her out for a drink before hugging her.

Police were alerted after the customer discovered what had happened to another woman, aged 24, who’d also been allegedly hugged when she visited the store.

Mr Neary said the younger woman was pulled towards Jones and kissed on the lips. She was in “complete shock.”

Jones, of Pen y Graig, Denbigh, was convicted after a trial of two counts of sexual touching, which he denied, and the case had been adjourned for a pre-sentence report.

District judge Gwyn Jones imposed a 32 weeks jail term, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation. Jones must pay each victim £300 compensation for the “pain and trauma” and £620 prosecution costs.

Judge Jones told the defendant: "It’s clear you had gone over that border people shouldn’t go over and became far too friendly with the customers.

“It’s clear from the content of the report you have made certain admissions to the probation team that you have gone beyond that boundary. Providing customers with your personal phone number isn’t in any way appropriate.”