An Adelaide man who stalked multiple women he met on social media and dating apps over a nine-year period should be released from jail after sentencing as his "future will be more certain", an Adelaide court has been told.
Sean Ian Bruce Flintoff, 36, appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court via video link from custody this morning.
He pleaded guilty to more than 20 stalking charges in June.
During sentencing submissions today, his lawyer Nick Vadasz told the court that Flintoff likely had a borderline intellectual disability and had suffered years of physical and psychological abuse by his parents throughout his life.
He urged Magistrate Mark Semmens to suspend the balance of his client's sentence, which meant Flintoff would be released from jail so that he could better access treatment for learning disabilities and his intellectual functioning.
"His future will be more certain if Your Honour imposes conditions rather than a non-parole period," he said.
The court heard Flintoff struggled academically and that his parents often called him names including "dumb" and "retard".
"He was bullied at home and bullied at school," Mr Vadasz said.
The court also heard Flintoff's behaviour when rejected was "extremely poor".
"He has been rejected by everyone in his life, starting with his parents," Mr Vadasz said.
"Mr Flintoff is not only remorseful, but has learnt a lesson."
The court also heard Flintoff had a much greater understanding of his behaviour now than he did two years ago.
The court previously heard a relationship breakdown around 2009 had possibly led to "problems with respect to the offending".
It had also heard that Flintoff had sent sex workers to his victims' houses, along with items which had not been asked for, as well as pizzas and multiple text messages.
Flintoff was first arrested in August last year, and charged with stalking and property damage but after appearing in media reports, more victims came forward.
Ten victim impact statements will be read to the court before Flintoff is sentenced in February.
