A Canberra public servant who stalked his ex-partner by sending animal faeces to her work, breaking into her home and sending explicit images to her family members, has been sentenced in Darwin's Supreme Court to three years and two months in jail.

Key points: Paul Anthony Bennett had pleaded guilty to 12 stalking-related charges

Paul Anthony Bennett had pleaded guilty to 12 stalking-related charges The court heard his victim became a "frightened and damaged shell of herself"

The court heard his victim became a "frightened and damaged shell of herself" Bennett had previously been placed on a two-year good behaviour bond

Paul Anthony Bennett, 54, pleaded guilty to 12 stalking-related charges, including using a carriage service to harass, unlawful entry and distribution of an intimate image.

The court heard he had previously been placed on a two-year good behaviour bond in Canberra, after stalking another former partner.

"I initially thought you needed to be in an institution where you could receive help, rather than prison, but the extent of your mental torture and maliciousness in relation to the victim demands punishment," Justice Peter Barr said in sentencing.

The court heard Bennett, who worked for the Department of Home Affairs at the time, broke into the victim's home, stole three pairs of her underwear, a ring, scratched a pair of glasses and wrote things like "whore", "mummy is a slut" and "bitch" across her possessions.

"As if that was not bizarre enough, you then went to the garden shed and took out a lawnmower to mow her lawn," Justice Barr said.

The victim became fearful and worried about what Bennett might do next.

Report described perpetrator as 'chronic' stalker

On another occasion, Bennett trespassed onto the property of the victim's male friend and filmed the pair through a window.

He texted the victim's mother, claiming he was concerned about her relationship with the man saying "no parent or friend ever wants to see a loved one being taken advantage of".

"That was the most hypocritical remark on your part," Justice Barr told him.

Despite being issued a Domestic Violence Order, Bennett flew to Darwin under a false identity and doused the her male friend's pool and car in petrol.

He repeatedly called and texted the man, from anonymous phones.

A psychiatric report described Bennett's behaviour as "diverse and chronic stalking" which required "intensive treatment".

Victim forced to pay legal fees

The report said he had a "significant history of intimate relationship problems" and the offending was "persistent" and "humiliating".

The court heard the victim became overwhelmed and stressed and that she was also forced to pay legal fees to maintain the child-sharing arrangements she had with her ex-husband, after Bennett sent "obscene images" to him.

Bennett repeatedly sent texts, emails and made phone calls, despite the victim moving and changing her phone number.

"The damage you did to the victim cannot be adequately described, she became a frightened and damaged shell of herself," Justice Barr said.

Bennett was sentenced to three years and two months in jail, backdated to May 29, 2018.

He will be eligible for parole before the end of the year.

Bennett was also ordered to pay $32,223.09 in compensation to the victim, to cover her loss of rent after she was forced to break her lease, as well as legal fees for child-sharing arrangements and the cost of property he stole.