Man jailed for sex with wheelchair-bound mother

A man who had sex with his wheelchair-bound mother after telling her no women seemed to want him could be released from a Darwin prison before the end of the month.

It is the first case of its kind in the Northern Territory and Justice Sally Thomas said it "offended public morals and community standards".

In sentencing the 26-year-old to three years in prison with a non-parole period of six months, Justice Thomas said the man's mother felt "betrayed, lost, lonely and very upset".

His sentence was backdated to the time of his arrest on May 30, meaning he could walk free from prison in two weeks.

The Northern Territory Supreme Court today heard the man had moved from Western Australia in February this year to live with his mother in Darwin.

About three months later he and his mother were watching television when he asked her: "Why don't women want me. I can't get no women here".

"The offender then pulled her knickers down with one hand," Justice Thomas said.

"(He) reached into his wallet and took a condom out and put it on his penis. The offender then got on top of his mother."

The intercourse took place on the futon the woman had been lying on and lasted for about 17 minutes. He later had sex with her again.

"After the offender got off his mother she got into her wheelchair and went into her room," Justice Thomas said.

The woman -- who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and has been dependent on a wheelchair for seven years -- told her doctor about the incident the following day during a regular check-up.

Her son was arrested later that day and pleaded guilty to two counts of having sex with a person knowing that the person was his mother.

Justice Thomas said the man, who was drunk at the time of the offence, was extremely remorseful and had been psychologically scarred by his own actions.

"His prior convictions are no credit to him, however it is important to note that he has never been previously convicted with a sexual offence," she said.

Justice Thomas found the victim was vulnerable and fragile but the issue of consent was not part of the charges.

She said the fact that the man, who cannot be named, had been raised by his father in Western Australia meant he did not have a normal mother-child bond.

"He is a talented athlete but his ability as a sportsman and employment opportunities have been affected by his problems with drugs and alcohol," she said.