A judge has been forced to delay the sentencing of a stalker - who his victim believed planned to torture, rape and kill her - after the Today Tonight television program highlighted the case on Monday night.

County Court judge Felicity Hampel planned to sentence David Smith, 40, from Torquay today until she was told he had been threatened by other prisoners in the Melbourne Remand Centre after the program was aired and his photograph shown.

The sentencing of a stalker was delayed after Today Tonight highlighted the case on Monday night.

Defence barrister Tom Danos told the court Smith had been moved into protective custody involving 23-hour-a-day lockdown because of the threats.

Smith would now have to serve any future jail sentence in protection.