Singapore - A professor who stole the bras and panties of three Singapore university students was placed on probation for 12 months by a community court judge, news reports said Tuesday.

Lee Wing Foon, who teaches in China, was also ordered to attend a special treatment programme for people with sexual disorders.

The 39-year-old Lee must see a psychiatrist regularly and cannot leave the city-state for more than a week without permission from his probation officer, The Strait Times said.

Lee admitted to stealing the underwear of three female students at the Nanyang Technological University. The students had left belongings on railings outside their hostel rooms.

In handing down the order Monday, Community Court Judge James Leong accepted the recommendations of a probation order.

Lee was told the sentencing conditions were for his own good.

"I understand. Thank you very much," said Lee, an associate professor at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China.

He could have been jailed up to three years and fined for each count of theft.(dpa)