An Australian man who worked as a baggage handler for the national airline Qantas was jailed for at least two years on Friday for stealing hair from women's luggage to satisfy a sexual fetish.

Rodney Lyle Petersen, 30, pleaded guilty in the Victorian County Court to 50 counts of theft, Australian Associated Press reported.

The court was told that Petersen would rummage through lost or delayed luggage that he was returning to passengers. He collected the hair from brushes and clothing, then put it inside plastic slips and record the women's personal details.

Police said he had catalogued the hair in more than 80 bags.

Petersen's lawyer told the court that his client did not mean to frighten the women because they were not meant to find out.

The court was told that Petersen suffered from a range of sexual deviances.

He was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail, with a non-parole period of two years.