The 55-year-old, resigned in shame and for letting down his team and his work.

He was so wracked with guilt, the court heard, that he resigned from his department, paid back the $2355 from of his final entitlements, and wrote a letter apologising for his actions.

The man told colleagues the department had meant everything to him and had been his "lifeblood". The court heard his social life revolved around his colleagues.

"Thanks for all of your support. I'm sorry I let you down," he wrote.

He wrote a farewell note to his family, and made a plan to kill himself, but was luckily stopped by police.

The court heard the offender was suffering from kidney failure, deteriorating eyesight, and depression.

The man appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court for sentencing on Thursday.

The court heard he used the government-issued Diners Club International Travel card seven times at the brothel within a 24-hour period. The unusual transactions came to the attention of the department, because they involved a merchant identified as a "massage parlour".

Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker described the crime as a significant breach of trust, but one that, although not trivial, was at the lower end of objective seriousness.

She said her sentence needed to deter others from engaging in similar conduct.

"It is unacceptable," she said.

"It doesn't just impact on the department, it impacts on the entire community."

But Ms Walker accepted the offender was remorseful, and that the crime was out of character.

The man was convicted and ordered to be of good behaviour for 12 months, with a security of $1000.

He was also fined $2550.

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