Wayne Skeggs, 58, appeared before Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after he admitted two counts of stalking.
The court heard a woman from Halstead had contacted the police earlier this year after seeing the defendant follow her around.
This was at her home address, her place of work, or when she was walking the dog.
Elisabeth Connor, prosecuting, told the court the victim had seen Skeggs parked outside her house or sitting at a bus stop opposite her house on a number of occasions.
She also caught him taking pictures of her when shopping at the Co-op in Sible Hedingham.
When she approached him about his behaviour, he said, “I follow you because I find you attractive”.
Police seized Skeggs’ phone following the report of his behaviour, revealing he had been stalking a second woman.
Reading from a victim impact statement, Mrs Connor said: “I feel stupid, I was not aware of it. I find it very hard to deal with it.
“This has been a traumatic experience. Nobody should have to go through this.”
Both women described feeling anxious and constantly worried, whether they were outside or at home.
Paul Baker, mitigating, told the court the defendant was unaware he had committed a crime.
He said: “At first, he thought what he was doing wasn’t wrong.
“But that’s the point of these charges, they’re here to protect the women in these cases.
“He hadn’t appreciated fully the effect his behaviour had on these women.”
Skeggs, of Swan Street, Sible Hedingham, was sentenced to a 12-month community order.
As part of the order, he will have to comply with 30 days of rehabilitation activity and 180 hours of unpaid work.
He is also prohibited from taking pictures of any women in the primary focus without their consent for the next 12 months.
Skeggs will have to pay £114 as a victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.
Two restraining orders have been put in place, prohibiting him from contacting the victims, going to their addresses and to the Lidl supermarket in Halstead.
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