Newnham's Daniel William George Ponting, 30, pleaded guilty to breaking into two homes last year. 

Two victims reported waking up early in the morning to find Ponting watching them.

One woman was in bed with her baby at Mowbray when she sensed being watched.

Ponting left when she got up.

Police prosecutor Kerryn Barwick said another woman had woken up in her Invermay home and screamed when she saw Ponting staring back at her. 

At the time he was wearing a black hoodie up over his head. 

The woman continues to suffer severe anxiety, Ms Barwick said.

Ponting stole items from both homes including rings, an iPhone and a watch. 

He pawned the $200 rings for $20, the court heard.

At the time of the offences, Ponting was on a probation order.

Lawyer Evan Hughes said Ponting's crimes were fuelled by a cannabis addiction.

His client had been seriously assaulted at work in 2012 and had become fixated on it.

According to Mr Hughes, Ponting had also been assaulted in custody and was fearful of jail.

He said police would not have been able to charge Ponting with aggravated burglary if his client hadn't made unsolicited confessions. 

Magistrate Reg Marron said Ponting's action must have been terrifying for the women who deserved to be safe from people like him.

Ponting interrupted, saying that was why he'd handed himself in. ``I realised it was wrong,'' Ponting said.

The court heard Ponting had a poor criminal history peppered with aggravated burglaries.

Mr Marron said he would send Ponting to jail for nine months if it wasn't for his early guilty pleas and frank admissions.

Most of the stolen items had been recovered.

Ponting was sentenced to five months' jail backdated to November.