Dudley Davey has been sentenced to life in jail with a non-parole period of 32 years for the murder of outback nurse Gayle Woodford in South Australia’s APY Lands.

The 56-year-old’s body was found in a shallow grave near the town of Fregon in March last year,after she responded to a late-night callout for assistance.

Davey, 35, pleaded guilty to the murder and rape of Ms Woodford and to stealing her ambulance.

Prosecutor Ian Press previously told the court Davey had a history of violent assaults against women, and that they had increased in severity over the years.

He said “the obvious motive” of the murder was to cover up the rape.

The court previously heard Davey had abused alcohol, cannabis and petrol sniffing, and was high on methylamphetamine — or ice — when he attacked Ms Woodford.

Justice Ann Vanstone said applying a discount of 30 per cent to his sentence for his early guilty plea to murder would be inappropriate and disproportionate to the seriousness of the offending.

“She was chosen by you as an easy target, vulnerable because of her empathy for your community,” she said.

“This was a cold-blooded killing of a woman who worked with skill and compassion in your community.”

Dudley Davey had a history of violent assaults against women.

For the crimes of rape and theft of the ambulance, Justice Vanstone imposed a sentence of eight years and two months.

“Even the theft is a serious offence; you targeted the vehicle which was earmarked with helping the weakest and most needy members of your community,” she said.

“You took it from them and in the saddest irony and used it to facilitate rape and murder.”

Davey showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down.

Outside the courtroom, members of Ms Woodford’s family wailed and sobbed.

Earlier this week, as Justice Vanstone prepared to sentence Davey, victims’ rights commissioner Michael O’Connell read a community impact statement to the court on behalf of the people of the APY Lands.

Their statement told of the love and respect members of the local community had for Ms Woodford, describing her as a kind and dedicated nurse, who treated everyone fairly.

They also told the court Davey would never be welcomed back to the APY Lands.