A BEECHWORTH man took matters into his own hands when he was told police needed time to investigate inappropriate behaviour claims towards his daughter, a court had heard.

The 41-year-old appeared at Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court pleading guilty to assaulting a 19-year-old Wangaratta man.

The court heard the 41-year-old visited the teen’s home during the night of 17 September last year and asked the 19-year-old to have a chat in their driveway.

“Do you know who I am?” he said to the Wangaratta teen, before punching him in the face after a short confrontation.

The 19-year-old suffered a bloodied nose and a soft tissue injury, and went to hospital.

The man would attend Beechworth Police Station on 7 October where he was charged.

Defence counsel Geoff Clancy said the 41-year-old’s daughter had been subject to "inappropriate behaviour” from the victim earlier in the day of the incident.

While it was reported to police, the Beechworth man was told there was little officers could do while they began an investigation into their claims, so Mr Clancy said his client took matters into his own hands.

“The moment got the better of him,” he said.

Magistrate Victoria Campbell placed the 41-year-old on a 12-month good behaviour bond without conviction.

“We would all do anything to protect our children but it’s just not acceptable to assault a child,” she said.