Stephen Baker subjected the woman to multiple acts of violence during her detainment, including punching her and using pliers to rip off her toe nail.

He also held a knife to the 62-year-old’s throat and said “I’m gonna stab you right now, you stink all the time”.

Court documents said the pair had known each other for about 20 years, during which time the woman appointed Baker as her official caregiver and he began receiving a carer’s pension.

The woman told police Baker held her inside the unit from September 2 until September 7 and barely left the house, however when he did, he locked all the windows and doors to prevent her from escaping.

The court heard an RSPCA officer who arrived on September 5 to collect a cat was shooed away by Baker, who said he would bring the cat to the shelter himself.

Meantime, the victim endured two more days of Baker’s violence and intimidation until she was saved by NSW Housing staff who had arrived to check on her.

Baker fled the house at the time but was arrested by police later that evening.

He was charged with aggravated kidnapping, to which he subsequently pleaded guilty.

In sentencing Baker on Friday, Judge Warwick Hunt said he was satisfied there was a causal link between the 54-year-old’s crime and his mental illness.

“It’s clear the offender was both psychotic and manic around the time of offence, which reduces his moral culpability,” he said.

“His mental health has been in the past well managed in the community….[but]  he wasn’t taking medication at the time of this offence.”

Baker was handed a non-parole period of 18 months. With time served, he will be released on parole in March next year.