A medieval reenactment enthusiast used his golden cloak to hide his hands to grope women while playing the part of Ist Earl of Pembroke.
‘Pillar of the community’ Trevor Pilling, 78, has been warned that he faces jail after being convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault on eight women.
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The retired accountant was accused of preying on vulnerable women in their own homes even when their husbands and family were stood outside the door.
He also abused women in hotels and during public reenactments.
Kim Preston, prosecuting described Pilling, of Lycrome Lane, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, as a ‘significant member’ of The Lion Rampant Medieval Display Society.
Miss Preston added: ‘He used his position and used that charismatic trusted role in different ways on a number of different women over the years and took advantage of the circumstances to take advantage of particular types of women – particularly those that were in a vulnerable part of their life, or physically vulnerable.’
Aylesbury Crown Court heard Pilling ‘encircled’ women with a floor length medieval cape worn over his authentic medieval costume during re-enactments so he could grope their breasts and then ‘carry on as if nothing had happened.’
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Miss Preston told the jury: ‘On one occasion, he allegedly placed his hand on the back of one woman, who had recently had an operation, and told her he had “healing hands” that “could heal her” and he could “see a shadow on her back”.
‘On another occasion he slid his hand down on her back and bottom and pinched her buttocks.’
It was claimed Pilling would carry out crystal treatments at his house, while his wife was there, on female members to sexually assault them.
His daughter was so sickened by her father’s behaviour when the women told her of his crimes that she reported him to the police.
‘These offences spanning a 25 year period from the early 1980s to 2007 show this defendant as a sexual menace,’ said Miss Preston.
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‘He has been indecently assaulting both younger and older women.
‘Then with these treatments, I don’t want to call them bogus as he might have spiritual talents, with women in their 40s, 50s, and even approaching their 60s.’
Pilling denied a total of 12 counts of indecent and sexual assaults on eight women between 1982 and 2007.
He was released on bail and ordered to attend the same court on March 15 for sentencing.
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