Young sisters' courage praised at their sexual abuser's sentencing

A judge has praised the extraordinary courage of two young sisters after sentencing their sexual abuser to more than 30 years in jail.

The man started preying on one of the girls relentlessly before she was even a teenager, videoing the horrific acts for his own pleasure.

The girl endured four years of vile degradation from a man she trusted, then had to sit through his trial.

On Wednesday she had to relive every detail for sentencing.

"I'm really happy with the sentencing," she said. "I didn't expect 32 years."

Judge Paul Conlon came down hard on Timothy James Stewart for grooming the girl and her sister, drugging her and raping her from the age of 12.

In total, Stewart committed 132 offences.

• WATCH: The moment a North Korean defector made his dash for freedom

• Drugs on duty: Australian Defence Force's hidden drug culture exposed

• WATCH: Aldi manager ushers student out of store, enforcing a 'whole of school ban'

Judge Conlon said Stewart "defied credibility" and had "developed an insatiable lust for her ... a perverted, indecent passion".

He described the acts as "an appalling breach of trust".

Stewart, 45, had portrayed the girl as a Lolita figure who had seduced him, but 78 gut-churning videos and 867 photographs proved otherwise.

"I'm immensely proud of their honesty and courage," the victims' mother said.

"I hope their strength and this outcome gives some comfort to other survivors of sexual abuse."

Stewart's harsh sentence was applauded.

"At certain times, the law is actually served by decent judges," victims' advocate Howard Brown said.

"Judge Conlon is a decent judge."

"Great. Not enough. He doesn't need to come out," a family friend said.

Stewart once told his young victim it would destroy her family if it ever got out, but she spoke out regardless.

She is still standing, with her family right beside her.

"I don't think he'll be coming out any time in my life so, yeah, I'm pretty happy," she said.

If you or someone you know is suffering from sexual or domestic abuse, don't suffer in silence, call 1800 RESPECT any time of day or night.