A JUDGE yesterday said he had never heard of a parent sexually assaulting their three-year-old daughter until the recent trial of a Ballarat man.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sexually assaulted his daughter in the shower at his home last year.

The 35-year-old was found guilty of one count of incest and pleaded guilty to one count of committing an indecent act in the presence of a child under 16 years old at the County Court in Ballarat on March 26.

During the man's plea hearing yesterday, Judge Tony Duckett said he had not previously heard of any case involving a child of that age.

The County Court at Melbourne also heard character evidence from two other witnesses.

They described the defendant as honest, gentle, thoughtful and totally trustworthy.

Defence lawyer Stephen Howe said his client's actions were not predatory, and that he stopped the assault when he realised that what he was doing was wrong.

Mr How urged the court to impose a sentence which gave his client "some light at the end of the tunnel" and a chance of rehabilitation.

Judge Duckett remanded the man in custody and reserved sentencing to a date to be fixed.