A 28-year-old man accused of scaring women by following them in Dolgellau has been jailed for two years.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard that an indefinite sexual prevention order had been made but Michael Williams, of Smithfield Road, Dolgellau, had ignored it on four previous occasions.

Prosecutor Michael Whitty said police received complaints about his behaviour overnight on 13-14 February.

Shortly before midnight a woman was making her way home when she became aware of a man approaching quickly from behind.

Mr Whitty said Williams passed but then he stopped, leaned against a wall and looked towards her.

“His behaviour made her feel very uneasy,” counsel remarked.

The woman turned around and walked away but Williams followed before she met a friend.

The prosecutor said two other women were walking through the town centre when Williams seemed to follow them.

They ran behind a Spar shop to hide and CCTV footage from the shop identified Williams who insulted the pair.

A previous conviction involved similar behaviour late at night, the court heard.

Williams admitted two breaches of a sexual offences prevention order.

Defence barrister Sion ap Mihangel said Williams experienced difficulties in everyday life and realised he had a problem.

“He wants to be helped. He wants to address this problem,” counsel remarked.

Williams also recognised cannabis and drink acted as a “disinhibitor”.

There was no physical contact with the followed women.

Judge Michael Burr said Williams had “flagrantly breached the terms of a clear order.”

He said: ”The result has been the ladies who made the complaints about your behaviour were seriously affected by what they observed and their concerns for their own safety were undoubtedly genuine.”

Judge Burr added: ”I have sympathy for the particular personal problems you have.”

But, he said, the public had to be protected and he jailed Williams for two years.

“Hopefully you will come out without that drug problem,” the judge told him.