Twelve days after a woman broke up with Eric Gemme, he showed up in her backyard on an October night last year.
It was 9:30 p.m. and she noticed the 52-year-old roofer had a board, which he used to knock out her security camera.
The next morning, he left the camera outside her front door.
Fearing for her safety she contacted the police, Ontario Court Justice Romuald Kwolek heard last week.
The complainant told the officers Gemme had been stalking her since the breakup, sending threatening and intimidating e-mails, prosecutor Trent Wilson said.
"He was banging on her door for hours."
Gemme also contacted her by text messages — threatening to kill the woman and a female friend.
On Thursday, he pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal harassment for his actions on Oct. 17.
As well, he was convicted of mischief for the Oct. 28 incident involving the security camera.
The court also heard police had been contacted by another woman, a former partner, in January of this year because he was leaving her messages.
He is prohibited from contacting her by a Superior Court of Justice restraining order imposed 14 years ago, Wilson said.
Defence lawyer Ken Walker and the Crown jointly called for seven and half months incarceration, plus three years probation.
Gemme has a lengthy criminal record dating back to the early 1990s, which includes offences of violence in various parts of the country, Wilson said.
He has numerous convictions for assault, assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm, which aren't domestic-related.
There also is a 10-year-gap, between 2007 and 2017, on his record, the assistant Crown attorney noted.
The complainant fears for her safety and she has reason to, he told Kwolek.
"He has been violent in the past and appears to have a problem with women."
They had a brief relationship, she ended it, and he had a difficult time understanding it was over.
Gemme said insane, scary things, showed up at her house at all hours and that's problematic, he said.
The woman didn't provide a victim impact statement, but feels he has mental health issues.
She wants to move on with her life, the prosecutor said.
Walker described what occurred as a situation where his client was attempting to reconcile and "it goes to crossing the line and criminal harassment."
"He is accepting responsibility and pledges to stay away."
Roofing is Gemme's livelihood and he's going to lose most of his work this season, the defence said. "He's disappointed in that."
When asked if he had anything to say, the accused told Kwolek: "I'm 52 and I have never assaulted a woman in my life."
The judge said Gemme's guilty pleas had saved the justice system time and the victim from the stress of a trial.
"It sounds like she wants you to get help."
Kwolek agreed to the joint sentencing position and gave Gemme an enhanced credit of 1.5 days for each day he has spent in custody since his arrest. He faces a further five months in jail.
The judge also placed him on probation for three years, the maximum permitted under the Criminal Code.
During that time, he can have no contact with three people, including the complainant and his former partner, and must not be within 50 metres of them.
As well, he must take any recommended assessment and counselling.
"I think you need some help with mental health issues," Kwolek told him.
Gemme is prohibited from possessing weapons for 10 years. He also must provide a DNA sample for the national registry.