Beca then strangled her in the back of the van while her young daughter, who apparently could not see what he was doing, sat in the front seat.
He then drove to the Nelson police station, with Ms Corbett's body still in the back of the van, and admitted killing her.
In the Hight Court at Nelson today, Justice David Collins sentenced Beca to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 15 years.
Beca had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of murdering Ms Corbett.
Justice Collins said the murder involved calculated and very deliberate planning, including alternative methods of killing her, the purchase of items to do so, and the "elaborate ruse" of a feigned kidnapping.
The murder also involved a high degree of callousness.
"The murder took place in close proximity to Ms Corbett's 5-year-old daughter who, at all times was in the van while you murdered her mother.
"Although Ms Corbett's daughter was apparently unable to see your actions, she would have been able to hear the sounds that would inevitably have occurred in the back of the van."
Justice Collins noted Beca had previous convictions for dishonesty, driving offences, possession of an offensive weapon, threatening to kill or do grievous bodily harm and assaulting a female.
A clinical psychologist had concluded he was not psychotic, but did appear to suffer anxiety disorders and possibly pathological personality disorders.
Justice Collins noted a "particularly disturbing" pre-sentencing report that found Beca had little insight into his offending and was at high risk of reoffending.
The murder had a "horrendous impact" on Ms Corbett's family and Justice Collins said he hoped Beca would reflect on that for the rest of his life.
