A black-clad peeping Tom who left a woman in Truro feeling "violated" by looking through her bedroom window while she was naked has received a 30 month community order.

His victim was in her downstairs bedroom late at night, and was “freaked out” to see a man in black clothing with a black bandana on his head staring at her through her window.

She covered herself with a duvet and broke down in tears, taking at least two hours to compose herself, Truro magistrates heard.

Samuel Jago Mead, 29, of the Crescent, Truro, had climbed a six foot garden wall and walked along its narrow top to get into her courtyard, behind a row of terraces opposite Truro Rail Station.

Alison May for the CPS said on Nov 14 the victim was alone in her home, naked and preparing to go to bed. There were no blinds or curtains at the window, and she was startled to see Mead staring at her through the glass. She covered herself with a duvet. He gasped, and left.

She told police afterwards: “It freaked me out……He might have looked at me more times than I know about, and I feel in many ways quite violated.”

Ms May said in an earlier incident on October 26, a male resident had seen Mead standing on the top of the back garden wall, looking directly into the house of his neighbours, a young couple.

When he spoke to him Mead said:”Sorry, sorry, I am looking for my friend” and walked away.

But he was then seen again by the same person, this time staring into the neighbours’ bedroom window, and running off when he was shouted at.

Ms May said that what Mead had done was gravely concerning. Prior to his arrest there had been a police investigation after several people had complained about a man in the back lanes behind the houses, peering through windows.

Lucy Bryant, solicitor for Mead, said he accepted that what he did would have been very unpleasant for the young woman, and was very sorry. “Why he did it, what he got out of it, is very complicated” she added. Mead accepted that there had to have been a sexual element to it.

He had been traumatised by what he did and said he needed help to address it.

Ms Bryant referred the magistrates to a report they had read on Mead in which there was mention of the adrenalin rush and highs he got out of what he had been doing.

Mead pleaded guilty to two offences of voyeurism, and chairman Mark Pilgrim said a prison sentence would not have been inappropriate for him, but magistrates thought a community order for 30 months was the best way.

He was marked for a sexual offences programme, with rehabilitation, and told to be under curfew every night for four months.

He was also given a criminal behaviour order prohibiting him from going to the residential areas near where he had been seen, and contacting named residents, and will be put on a sexual offenders’ register for five years.

Mead, who is on benefits, had to pay £170 costs and charges.