A NIGHT-TIME Peeping Tom who peered at women in their homes has been banned from leaving his house after dark.

Prowler Joseph Smith has also been barred from going near changing rooms after he spied on a schoolgirl as she got undressed at a swimming pool.

The 20-year-old was spared jail yesterday by a judge who said treatment for his problem was more important than locking him up.

But the Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, QC, warned Smith: "If there is any more of this behaviour there is every likelihood you will go to custody - keep that in mind."

Unemployed Smith, of Tweed Road, Spennymoor, County Durham, admitted four counts of harassment, committing an act which outraged public decency and voyeurism.

Teesside Crown Court heard how four different women were bothered by Smith staring into their homes, near Spennymoor town centre, over a four-month period last winter.

On one occasion, in December, other neighbours claimed they saw him masturbating as he pressed his face against the window of one of the houses.

Peter Makepeace, prosecuting, said Smith targeted women when he knew there were no men at home and would flee once spotted.

When arrested and questioned on April 15, Smith said he got a buzz from seeing people in the privacy of their own homes and was unable to stop himself.

Two days later, after being given bail, he went to Spennymoor Leisure Centre and peered into a cubicle where a 12-year-old girl was getting undressed.

Smith told police he had no interest in children, but just wanted to see someone naked.

Robin Turton, mitigating, said: "The greater public interest at this point may be to try to deal with the problem and grasp the nettle rather than send him to custody."

Judge Fox imposed a three-year community penalty and ordered Smith to be supervised by a probation worker, to accept medical treatment and keep to a curfew between sunset and sunrise for six months.

A sexual prevention order was also imposed which prevents Smith from entering or attempting to enter or approach within 50 metres of female changing facilities at sport or recreation venues. The order also bars him from loitering next to residential dwellings.

Judge Fox said: "If you break this order you will be brought back to court and punished."