Cecil Maurice Mabb, 42, grabbed the girl, who was on a family trip at Montagu Park in January, by the leg and throat and carried her to his ute.

She was found alone and dazed about an hour later at a beach one kilometre away, telling the camper who found her "someone brought me here and I don't know how to get back".

A four-year-old boy, who was riding with the girl, pleaded with Mabb to leave her alone before returning to the campsite to raise the alarm.

Mabb coincidentally called police minutes after the girl was found, telling them there was an "extreme emergency" because he had just tried to kidnap a child.

He gave officers his rough location but then evaded intense search efforts in the rugged Arthur River region overnight, eventually surrendering about 4pm the next day.

Mabb pleaded guilty to abducting and assaulting the girl, as well as assaulting a Parks and Wildlife officer who was involved in searching for him.

Mabb threatened the officer with a hammer when the pair came together in bushland several hours before he was arrested.

The girl had injuries consistent with strangulation, blunt force trauma to her head and was covered with scratches and grazes.

Mabb told police he released the girl after five minutes and he could not explain his conduct but wanted to cuddle her because she reminded him of his granddaughter.

In sentencing remarks published on Friday, Justice Robert Pearce determined significant force was used by Mabb, who was witnessed by the boy choking the girl.

"It must have been a terrifying experience for the child he abducted and her family, and also for the others searching for her," the judge wrote.

"She continues to suffer from nightmares and other serious psychological impacts. There has been a continuing impact on the broader family."

While in custody, Mabb told prison staff he abducted the girl so he could "eat her".

Justice Pearce wrote psychiatric reports found no evidence to suggest cannibalistic intent and determined the comments were a bizarre attempt to access treatment he thought he needed.

There was no evidence of sexual assault but two psychiatrists said it couldn't be ruled out completely as a motive.

Between 1995 and 2003, Mabb committed a series of sexual offences against children and was sentenced to four years' jail in 2008.

Justice Pearce wrote Mabb claimed he was abused a child and his life entered a downward spiral of alcohol and drug abuse when his marriage broke down two years ago.

He was sentenced to a non-parole period of four years.

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Australian Associated Press