Nick McPeake, 28, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Thursday to unlawful assault.

The charge related to a dispute between McPeake and his 21-year-old neighbour on June 8 last year.

McPeake left his home about 5.30pm and walked to his black Holden Commodore which was parked near the victim's property.

The victim was skateboarding outside the house with a group of family members, including a 16-year-old girl.

McPeake glared at a female member of the group before getting into his vehicle and driving away.

The woman believed the offender had driven too close and yelled out.

The court heard McPeake then conducted a U-turn and slammed on the brakes before pulling over on the side of the street.

He exited his vehicle and walked toward the woman and began verbally abusing her.

The court heard the male victim approached McPeake and an altercation occurred.

McPeake picked up a skateboard and struck the victim to the left side of his ribs, causing a large welt to appear.

A scuffle ensued before McPeake's aunt broke the incident up.

McPeake then retreated to his vehicle and drove away.

He attended Warrnambool police station by appointment on July 18.

During an interview, he told police the victim had pretended to throw something at his vehicle, causing McPeake to swerve his car to avoid being hit.

He said he was angry and that the victim had struck him with a timber stake.

Kyle McLaughlin, representing McPeake, said the incident was "a sorry affair that he regrets having any involvement in".

"He knows he ought to have walked away but he didn't," he said.

He said McPeake had since moved house in order to avoid further confrontation.

Magistrate Mark Stratmann said the the incident could have been "much worse if it had gone any further".

"This is the kind of dispute where people can be quite seriously injured," he said.

The magistrate condemned violence in public.

"You made the decision to come back and deal with the abuse you felt you had received. I think that was a very significant mistake," he said.

McPeake was convicted and fined $850.

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