Jason James Giri's offending against the girl, who was aged under 10, continued for more than a year.

The 46-year-old Kangaroo Flat man was sentenced in the County Court in Bendigo on Thursday, after pleading guilty to seven charges of sexually assaulting a child under 16 and one charge of sexual activity in the presence of a child under 16.

He will have a non-parole period of three years, with 356 days already served.

The court heard Giri sexually assaulted the girl and made her touch him on a number of occasions.

Giri also showed the girl pornographic footage on his phone a number of times.

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When interviewed by police, Giri said he touched the girl to make it look like he was doing "sick stuff" to "get back" at the girl's father, who he said was calling him "bad".

Giri admitted to touching the girl, but denied making her touch him.

He told police there was nothing sexual about his actions and he felt no attraction towards children.

Giri also said he was affected by ice every time and had made himself look like a paedophile.

The court heard Giri had earlier been convicted and jailed on three offences, including the sexual assault of a woman, and was released the day his period of offending against the child began.

In a victim impact statement read to the court on their behalf, the girl's parents described the "massive" fallout from Giri's offending.

They said their daughter had been a "bright, cheerful and caring little girl" and while she remained so, she was also now angry.

"Our little girl had her innocence taken away from her at such a young age," the parents said.

They said they felt guilty they brought Giri into their daughter's life, and experienced anxiety.

"This has consumed our lives since we found out," they said.

Giri's defence counsel Michael Turner told the court this week that his client understood the gravity of his offending.

"He certainly acknowledges that he has offended... and he certainly understands the complainant is a very young girl who has been significantly affected by this conduct," Mr Turner said.

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He said Giri's judgement was impaired by his drug use and he otherwise could not behave in such a way.

Giri was remorseful, Mr Turner said, and while he had an extensive criminal history, only one prior offence was sexual.

He said Giri's pleas prevented the victim from having to give evidence in trial.

Mr Turner did not contest that imprisonment was warranted, but said the length and non-parole period was in question.

He asked Judge Paul Lacava to impose a longer than normal parole period.

But Crown prosecutor David Cordy said that while the plea had a high utilitarian value, Giri's crimes were serious examples of that type of offending.

Mr Cordy said it was not a one-off offence; Giri had had time to reflect on his actions, but continued to commit the crimes.

"These are crimes that call for a significant penalty," he said.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Lacava said he took into account Giri had pleaded guilty at an early opportunity, which avoided the matter going to trial.

But the Judge said the offending was still "shocking" and "clearly very serious".

"Crimes against children should be regarded as abhorrent," Judge Lacava said.

The Judge said he believed Giri's rehabilitation prospects were guarded. He recommended Giri undertake sex offender programs while in prison.

Giri was jailed for four and a half years, with a non-parole period of three years.

He will be on the sex offenders' register for life.

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