The victim said she had been suffering with her mental health ever since
11:26, 24 Oct 2025Updated 11:40, 24 Oct 2025
Harrhys Rafiq, 26, was working at a Premier Stores shop when he sexually assaulted a customer
A man working in his dad’s corner shop has been sentenced after sexually assaulting a customer while on shift.
Harrhys Rafiq, 26, of Water Avens Close, St. Mellons, Cardiff, was working at a Premier Stores shop in the city when he sexually assaulted a customer by touching her inappropriately. This involved an aroused Rafiq pressing his groin into the shop customer, who said she had been suffering with mental health issues ever since.
Prosecutor Bethan Evans told Cardiff Crown Court that a woman entered Shad’s Bishopston Premier Stores on Bishopston Road in Cardiff in January of this year, and was sexually assaulted by the shop owner’s son, Harrhys Rafiq, who was working in the store that day. Rafiq pleaded guilty to the offence of sexual assault and was sentenced for the offence on October 23.
Ms Evans showed CCTV footage of the incident to the court, where Rafiq was seen to walk over to the victim then pressing himself against her. She was seen to pull away before starting a dispute with him. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
Ms Evans said Rafiq pressed onto her body then, when challenged by the victim, laughed.
As this was told to the court, Rafiq, who was sat in the dock, was shaking his head.
Judge Lucy Crowther asked Rafiq if there was a problem, to which he replied “there are some parts that aren’t true.”
In her sentencing comments, Judge Crowther said that the events had happened and it was “embarrassing and humiliating” for the victim.
After the incident, the victim contacted Rafiq’s father, who owns the shop, to complain about what happened. She also informed the police.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, the victim described feeling “paranoid all of the time” since the assault.
She said: “I keep looking over my shoulder because I feel like people are watching me.
“My mental health has really suffered. I feel as though people just think I’m lying but I’m not. I feel constantly on edge.
“I’m on my own all day every day, It’s affecting everything. I feel as though everybody’s talking about me and everyone is against me.
“The whole thing replays in my mind and I just don’t want to be in a relationship at all. I can’t stand the thought of being treated badly. Everything has become so difficult.
“I can’t sleep at all. I wake up having severe panic attacks at night. I wake up crying with the anxiety. I’m always tired. Every day my mind is just racing all of the time.
“I feel like people are constantly looking at me. I’ve lost friendships because I’ve become so needy. I really need help.
“I don’t go outside much because I get constant reminders. I’m so isolated. I literally have no support at all.”
Acting in Rafiq’s defence, Mr Christopher Evans told the court that since the assault the defendant had got married and continued to work in the family business. Mr Evans said his client had found these court proceedings “rather overwhelming” as it was all new to him, with Rafiq having no previous convictions.
Upon sentencing, Judge Lucy Crowther said: “First of all you touched her bottom, you were complimenting her on her appearance and then you pushed yourself against her back.
“Then you touched her bottom and her side with your hands. When she challenged you, you laughed at her.
“She quite appropriately telephoned your father to complain about your behaviour and you’ve heard the impact that this has had upon her.
“This was a very embarrassing and humiliating experience.
“She had no idea why you would behave like this towards her. You’ve made her feel very vulnerable and very anxious.
“She has suffered with disturbed sleep and has felt very isolated in her home and in her community and that’s all because of what you did.
“It is bewildering why you would have behaved like this.”
Judge Crowther sentenced Rafiz to a 10 month community order for the offence of sexual assault, considering a 20% reduction for his early guilty plea.
Rafiz will have to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, and ten days of rehabilitation activity requirement.
