James Bradley punched the victim's front security door after learning he had made threats to his sister-in-law at 6pm on March 12, 2017.

The victim and Bradley's sister-in-law lived at a Wendouree unit complex at the time of the neighbourhood dispute.

Bradley pleaded guilty at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Wednesday to one charge of wilful damage.

The case was initially listed as a contested hearing.

The court was told the victim allegedly told Bradley's sister-in-law and her two children if he had a gun he would shoot them and slit their throats.

Bradley and his brother-in-law were out having dinner when they received a phone call about the alleged threats.

They arrived home and Bradley approached the victim's house.

The court was told he threw rocks towards the victim before punching his front security door several times, causing it to cave in.

Police arrived and questioned Bradley, who was verbally abusive towards them.

Defence barrister Matthew Cookson said the neighbourhood dispute escalated after the victim confronted his neighbour about there being too many rocks going on his driveway.

"When (Bradley and his brother-in-law) got home they decided to confront him ... and my client damaged the door," Mr Cookson said.

He said the victim had threatened Bradley's wife during the dispute.

Both parties involved in the dispute were charged.

The court was told Bradley, a father of four children on a disability pension, was on a community corrections order at the time of the offending.

Mr Cookson urged the court to consider sentencing Bradley to an adjourned undertaking to be on good behaviour.

But magistrate Gregory Robinson did not agree.

"I consider it an aggravating feature; you were on a CCO at the time," Mr Robinson told Bradley.

"You receive the pension, you can't go around and damage property that you can't afford to pay."

Bradley was assessed as unsuitable to complete community work as part of a CCO.

He was convicted and fined $1000 and ordered to pay $735 compensation for damaging the security door.

If Bradley has not pleaded guilty, he would have been placed on a CCO with conditions.