A MAN who stalked three separate victims over the space of four months has been handed 14 months in jail.

Samuel Apenteng carried out a sustained campaign of stalking and harassment against his three victims between February and June.

The 33-year-old, of Bardsley Close in Colchester, had denied a charge of sexual assault, a charge of stalking and two lesser charges of simple stalking.

But he was found guilty after a week-long trial.

Raj Joshi, prosecuting, read out a victim statement from one of the women.

Gazette:

Her statement said: "This crime has affected me in numerous ways, there is never a day that goes by when it's not on my mind.

"Every day is a struggle when it comes to doing the simplest things. I'm constantly checking behind me.

"This crime has and will scar me forever.

Gazette:

"I never thought anything of it when he would simply say hello or ask me how my day was.

"There were days when I contemplated not going to work or seeing my friends because I was point blank scared of this guy. I felt trapped."

In her victim statement she described an occasion where Apenteng saw her out with her family. He saw her again a couple of days later and was able to describe exactly what she had been wearing.

She added: "For me that was a whole different level - it's not only scared and upset me. It has made me fear for my family.

"Although this wasn't a physical crime the mental factors are horrible."

Peter Clark, mitigating, said Apenteng had moved from Ghana to Colchester with a relative.

He said he never intended to cause distress, but he should have realised it had been caused.

He said: "He was self-supporting, he was trying to make his own way.

"It has been, sadly, a failure."

Judge Jonathan Seely sentenced him at Chelmsford Crown Court this afternoon.

He was given ten months in prison for the first count of sexual assault, and six months in prison for count two of stalking, to run concurrently.

For counts three and four of simple stalking, he was given a total of four months to run after his 10 month sentence, making a total of 14 months in prison.

Judge Seely said: "The offence for count one was not some isolated incident, but a course of conduct.

"It's a long period to cause her serious harm and distress.

"This campaign upon her had a dreadful affect on her."

Apenteng is due to be deported back to Africa in the near future.

In May, a woman called Essex Police to report she had been sexually assaulted at a bus stop in North Station Road.

Following this report a photo appeal was issued by Essex Police leading to other alleged victims coming forward.