The man, who The Courier has chosen not to name to protect the complainant's identity, pleaded guilty in the County Court to one charge of rape, which encompassed two events in 2017.

The court was told the man had penetrated the victim despite her saying 'no' when he returned to her Ballarat home to collect his possessions days after they had broken up.

On another occasion, after getting take-away food with the victim, he drove her home, where she went to her bed and fell asleep.

The man then entered her room, saw she was sleeping and began to rape her - the victim said she woke up while he was inside her.

In a police interview, he said he realised that she was not awake and stopped.

After the incident, the victim told a neighbour, who phoned police - the man was arrested while he was sitting outside the victim's house in his car.

He had sent messages apologising for his actions, and had told her he "felt like (he) had done something wrong".

The accused and the victim were both 18 at the time.

A victim impact statement, read out in court, noted the victim felt a constant and deep sense of shame, had withdrawn socially, and struggled with intimacy.

The man's defence lawyer tended character references from sporting clubs, former teachers, and his employer, among others.

Judge Christopher Ryan said he accepted the guilty plea, his remorse, and young age and prospects for rehabilitation.

He declined to jail the man, who will instead be detained at a youth justice facility.

"Your conduct has had a profound effect on the complainant," he said.

"Rape is a serious crime."

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