The serious unprovoked assault occurred at 8.30pm on July 18 after Joshua Macdonald used an app linked to his wife’s mobile phone to find her at the victim's house.

The Ballarat Magistrates Court was told on Thursday Macdonald, 24, entered the Wendouree house and saw an unknown male and his wife in the lounge room.

Senior Sergeant Ivan Blomeley said the victim ran in fear from his house to a nearby park while Macdonald chased him down and punched him four times.

The victim, who was in court, suffered facial injuries which magistrate Gregory Robinson described as "like he has been attacked by some sort of wild animal in the park". 

The magistrate told Macdonald the victim had suffered not only physical effects, but life-changing consequences of the unprovoked assault.

"This is someone you don't know. You attacked someone who was trying to run away. Even though you felt some anger, you decided to go on with it,” Mr Robinson said.

"He made it clear he didn’t want any act of violence. It has all the hallmarks of ugly male conduct of seeking to control females in their lives."

Defence lawyer Scott Belcher said his client and his wife had significant relationship issues before the assault, but she was in court to support him.

He said Macdonald, a plasterer, had no prior criminal convictions and had completed six sessions with a counsellor.

Mr Belcher urged the court to consider placing Macdonald on a good-behaviour bond without a conviction, and with conditions he donate money and complete an anger management course.

But the magistrate said the court would be sending the wrong message if Macdonald was sentenced to an adjourned undertaking.

“It's not the most serious assault but aggravated by the fact you entered his home and attacked him,” Mr Robinson said.

“The message needs to be sent to young men that any conduct of this nature has serious consequences.”

Mr Robinson sentenced Macdonald to two weeks in jail. He pleaded guilty to recklessly causing injury.