This report contains references to sexual assault.

More than two decades on from his first known offence, serial predator Charlie Contarino was recently sentenced to six years in prison in the NT Supreme Court.

Contarino, now 67, was living in regional Northern Territory when he began abusing a young girl over 24 years ago.

Over the course of several years he repeatedly assaulted the girl - including raping her in his car on the side of the road.

The violent exploitation came to an end when the girl fought back against Contarino, the NT News reports.

He continued to live and work in the NT, later working on Bathurst Island (one of the Tiwi Islands and home to Wurrumiyanga community) and then in the east of Western Australia's Kimberley region.

NT Police started investigating Contarino in 2022 after receiving a formal complaint from the victim.

He was arrested, charged and made bail before being taken into custody again in September this year after pleading guilty to four counts of indecently dealing with a child under 16.

NT News reports Contarino also entered a guilty plea to a single count of having sexual intercourse with a child under 16 and an act of gross indecency.

Justice Meredith Huntingford described his conduct as "highly offensive behaviour" and "predatory".

A statement from the victim said she endured "severe and lifelong" consequences as a result.

Justice Huntingford noted Contarino had offended "over a prolonged period of time".

"You persistently offended, continuing your behaviour eve though the victim clearly expressed her distress and asked you to stop," she told him in Court.

The judge noted his early plea and a doctor's report indicating Contarino did "not have a persisting sexual interest in children" and sentenced him to six years in prison, backdated to September.

He will be eligible for parole after serving 2.5 years.