The court yesterday heard the assault occurred after the couple were told children in the Port Fairy area were harassing other children and filming the incidents.

Jonathan Bradley Broadfoot, 38, of Princes Highway, Port Fairy, was fined $1000 and his partner Kate Sclater, 32, of the same address, was fined $400.

Both had pleaded guilty to unlawful assault on February 13 in Port Fairy.

Kathryn Moloney, for the couple, said the assault had occurred during a neighbourhood dispute.

Stones had been thrown at Sclater’s young son by older children and others in the nearby area were being “picked on”, Ms Moloney said.

Eggs had also been thrown at houses, she said.

Ms Moloney said Sclater had gone to collect her son who had been playing with friends when she heard more reports about the dispute.

Sclater had been drinking at the time and was caught up with the emotion of the dispute when the victims walked past with other children.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Nathan Brown said Sclater had hit in the head the girl believed to be doing the filming and the girl’s father had intervened.

Broadfoot had jumped a fence and punched the father a number of times because he believed the father was assaulting Sclater, Leading Senior Constable Brown said.

Ms Moloney said Broadfoot realised he had responded in the wrong way and that violence was not the way to address the couple’s concerns.

Magistrate John Lesser said alcohol consumption was no excuse for the pair’s behaviour.