An Italian man who sexually assaulted female backpackers and filmed others naked in the shower in Brisbane has been sentenced to five years in jail.

Alberto Dagrezio, who arrived in Queensland on a student visa, pleaded guilty in the District Court to 66 offences for sexually assaulting, digitally raping and invading the privacy of 44 women over a 10-month period in 2015.

The 33-year-old snuck into Base Backpackers and Bunk Backpackers, where he would leave his shoes in the common area and walk around pretending to be on his mobile phone while he looked for unlocked dorm rooms.

Prosecutor Christopher Cook said Dagrezio would then look for females who were semi-naked or naked and then film them as they slept.

"The defendant would go into neighbouring shower cubicles, sit down and film them underneath the gap in the wall," Mr Cook said.

"What he told police was that his offending was motivated by fantasy, a desire to go against the law and break the rules."

Mr Cook said some of the women were subjected to "invasive and intrusive touching" and a lot of the backpackers who were filmed never knew about it and might never be told.

'Pre-existing voyeuristic fantasies'

Police became aware of Dagrezio after one of his victims complained to hostel staff.

He was captured on CCTV and arrested in December 2015.

The court heard Dagrezio admitted what he had been doing and police uncovered dozens of videos and pictures in his possession.

"Most of the evidence comes from videos which were located on his computer," Mr Cook said.

Dagrezio had a very unusual family upbringing and had "pre-existing voyeuristic fantasies" that manifested when he moved to Brisbane in 2012, the court was told.

Defence barrister Tony Kimmins said his client would be referred to specialist psychological or psychiatric treatment once back in Italy.

The prosecution told the court Dagrezio's visa was cancelled in April last year, so he was not eligible for parole and should be given a suspended sentence so he could be deported.

"This man is never to see the light of day in Australia again. The sentence can be structured to see him deported and to ensure the Australian community is protected," Mr Cook said.

Dagrezio's five-year sentence was suspended immediately due to time already served in custody and to allow for his deportation to Italy.