A sick member of a secretive Christian sect stalked four housewives to fulfil his sexual fantasies.
Gerard Roy of The Brethren - a strict Christian fellowship based in Redlands Road, East Reading - hoarded personal items of his victims, tried on their clothes and masturbated on to their bedding.
He subjected one woman to years of torment, beginning in 1993.
On one occasion between November 2002 and March 2003 the 32-year-old broke into one of the women's homes in Whitley when she was out, wore her clothes and personal items and then stole her underwear.
Roy, of Campbell Court, Woodley, previously admitted at a hearing on August 26 he had stalked the women, all fellow members of the religious group, and on Tuesday appeared at Reading Magistrates' Court for sentencing.
James Cable, prosecuting, said Roy had admitted going into one woman's home, taking items that belonged to her and "using them to fulfil his sexual fantasies".
Members of the group believe in keeping themselves as a separate community from the evils of secular society and share keys to each other's houses.
The court heard Roy subjected one woman to years of harassment, sitting in view of her at church meetings, driving backwards and forwards in front of her house and subjecting her to silent telephone calls.
On one occasion he asked his then-wife to bring his briefcase to his workplace, but when she offered to open it for him, he got "defensive", Mr Cable said.
But when she did open the suitcase she found used kitchen towels, strands of human hair which Roy had taken from one of the women's bins and a picture of this woman.
The court also heard Roy had subjected all of the women to numerous silent phone calls and occasionally hid in bushes waiting for them.
Magistrates were told Roy did stop for a time in 2001 and the elders of the church thought the issue had been resolved.
But when stalking and silent phone calls began again, members of the church clubbed together and paid for him to see a consultant psychologist, but this made little difference.
Roy, unemployed and no longer a member of The Brethren in East Reading, was sentenced to a three-year community order with a supervision requirement for three counts of harassment and one of trespassing with intent to steal.
He will also have to attend the Thames Valley Sex Offender Groupwork Programme and was given a restraining order meaning he will not be able to contact or go near the women.
In a statement given to the Evening Post after the hearing, Vanessa Tofield, the solicitor for the fellowship to which the victims belong, said: "All those concerned are relieved that the court proceedings have finally come to an end.
"This matter has caused everyone involved profound emotional and spiritual distress. It is hoped that the professional help ordered by the court will assist Mr Roy to address his problems and get control of his life."
The Brethren are believed to have held meetings in Reading since 1840.
In March, after a 14-year search for new premises, the sect was granted planning approval for a new £1 million gospel hall at Shinfield Court, Church Lane, Shinfield.
There are members of the sect all over the world.
