A man convicted of raping a woman who was working at a Darwin buck's night will serve nine months in jail before he is released.

Key points: Willcocks sentenced to three-and-a-half years jail, suspended after nine months

Willcocks sentenced to three-and-a-half years jail, suspended after nine months Justice Dean Mildren said Willcocks knew he didn't have the woman's consent

Justice Dean Mildren said Willcocks knew he didn't have the woman's consent Judge said women performing strip shows are 'vulnerable', laws must be obeyed

WARNING: The following contains graphic details that may offend some readers.

Kevin Willcocks, 41, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison in the Northern Territory Supreme Court on Monday.

The sentence is suspended after nine months.

Willcocks pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent after inserting his beer bottle into the woman's vagina while she was performing a sex show.

Justice Dean Mildren said he accepted that the assault was brief and caused no physical harm.

But he said it had caused the woman psychological harm.

He said a sentence was required to show that violations of consent would not be tolerated by the community.

"I find that you did know that you had no such permission and there was no mistaken impression by you that you did have her permission," he said.

"Women who work as strippers are very vulnerable — their work is often performed in front of drunken men."

"Their work is lawful and required those being entertained by them to be respectful and obey the law."

Willcocks' lawyer, Mark Thomas, had told the court before the sentence was read out there was "nothing to prevent" his client being released on Monday, given he had spent the weekend in custody.

Victim's life 'changed completely': judge

Justice Mildren said he did not accept Willcocks' claim that he did not remember inserting the bottle, despite recalling the moments before and after.

"I can only infer that you have subconsciously decided to bury this memory because you do not want to face the reality of what you did," he said.

He said he accepted that Willcocks had acted impulsively and in part because he was affected by alcohol.

He told Willcocks: "Perhaps as you yourself surmised you were being a larrikin and wanted to liven up the party".

He described Willcocks as a married father of four with "excellent" prospects for rehabilitation, noting he had volunteered himself to police when they began an investigation.

But he said he had seen no evidence of remorse.

The woman involved told the court through a victim impact statement that she felt "validated" by the verdict and felt no vindictiveness towards Willcocks.

But Justice Mildren relayed elements of the statement that described the toll the attack had taken on her mental health, describing how she had not wanted to leave the house for fear she would be recognised by one of the men at the party.

"(The victim) says that what you did changed her life completely," he said.

He said he considered it remarkable "how very few of the men" at the party claimed to have been watching the show when the assault happened.