A former chief executive at Plymouth and District Mind has been sentenced to do 150 hours of unpaid work after stalking a woman for three months.

Nicholas Pennell appeared at Plymouth Crown Court last Friday to be sentenced for the stalking of a 29-year-old woman, the Daily Mail has reported. Pennell is now receiving therapy and counselling after becoming “obsessed” with the woman.

Judge Geoffrey Mercer said: “He was infatuated. I am prepared to accept that you had no sinister intent towards this woman.

“You developed an infatuation to the extent of an obsession. It frightened her and caused her real distress.”

Pennell would reportedly follow the woman home from work in his car. He continued to follow her after she changed her route home until she took down the car’s registration number and reported him to the police.

Pennell has been given a restraining order banning him from making contact with the woman as well as having to pay £1,030 court costs and a token £200 compensation to the victim.

Pennell’s lawyer, Gareth Richardson, told the court: “He found her a very attentive, enchanting woman and became obsessed.

“He is mortified she was so adversely affected.”

Pennell, from Tavistock in Devon, was chief executive of Plymouth and District Mind until he resigned from his position following his arrest in September.

He said afterwards: “I am still shaking, I regret what has happened.”

Mental health charity Mind told civilsociety.co.uk: “We can confirm that Nicholas Pennell is the former chief executive of Plymouth and District Mind. Following Mr Pennell's arrest earlier this year he immediately resigned from his post.”