A HERBAL medicine shop has closed down after one of its practitioners was found guilty of groping a female patient and asking if he could kiss her.

The store was cleared out and abandoned this week, adding to a number of empty units which have raised concern among traders in Fleet Street.

The Adver reported last week that the street, which has many boarded-up shop fronts has been struggling to get passing trade.

Traders called on the council to develop the stores and bars as it emerged town centre management company inSwindon does not keep statistics on the area’s footfall.

The Herbal Shop stopped trading after Hong Wei Dong, 51, was convicted in September, but closed the premises for good this week.

Dong groped the woman, who had paid £100 for four treatments for stress, and also performed a sex act while she lay on a bed in a darkened room.

The pastor’s son left her in the dark after administering the therapy, before returning to remove the needles and massage her from the head down.

He then groped the woman in the chest area and asked: “Can I kiss you?”

Dong, who lived at the shop with his wife and daughter, was found guilty of sexual assault after a trial at Swindon Magistrates’ Court.

His victim had fought back tears as she told the hearing: “It’s been awful. On that day I felt violated.

“I had gone to see this person, supposed to be a herbalist or therapist, and had put my trust in him to relieve stress and tension. I wanted to have an overall 100 per cent well-being. I didn’t go there to be treated in a way I knew was wrong.”

Dong was given four week jail sentence, suspended for two years and prohibited from working in herbal medicine, massage or acupuncture within that time.

He was also ordered to sign on to the sex offenders’ register for the next seven years.

A worker answering the shop’s mobile number confirmed the business had closed as a result of the court case .