Robert Stanley Irwin, 45, of Goulburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault. He appeared before Goulburn Local Court on July 28.

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Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said the assault was "really serious".

She told the court that the two victims, a male and female, were mowing a lawn when Irwin approached them "completely unprovoked" and "out of the blue".

"Straight away you go over to the female and put her in a headlock," Magistrate Beattie said.

She said the male victim noticed the female appeared to be in pain, before Irwin applied more and more force.

"She pushes you to break free about three times and you still won't stop."

The magistrate said when the male victim attempted to intervene, Irwin struck him in the knee, shin, thigh and ribs.

She told the court that Irwin then tackled the female to the ground, hit her in the side of the face with his knee and punched her multiple times with closed fists.

Solicitor Rod Boyd argued the "bizarre incident" was fueled by alcoholism.

"Alcohol has caused [my client] lots of problems in his life," Mr Boyd said.

He told the court Irwin had abstained from alcohol for 15 months before the assault.

"On his wedding day he thought it would be a good idea to celebrate with a few drinks, and went down a very slippery slope [over the coming weeks]."

Mr Boyd told the court that a few weeks after the wedding Irwin had begun drinking from 5am, and visited someone across the road from where the offence took place.

"He can't recall anything else," Mr Boyd said.

He argued his client had "not a hint of violence on his criminal record" and shortly after had presented himself to Pathways.

"[Irwin has been] sober since then and has no intention of ever drinking again," Mr Boyd said.

"He knows what the problem is and is willing to participate in treatment."

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie took Irwin's early guilty plea into account.

"Alcohol doesn't cause someone to behave like that," she said.

"It's convenient for you that you can't really remember what happened.

"I considered very seriously locking you up for this."

The magistrate said Irwin's efforts to seek help for alcoholism was the only reason "I'm keeping you in the community".

Irwin was sentenced to a 12-month Intensive Corrections Order and a two-year Community Corrections Order with conditions to abstain from alcohol and engage in treatment. He was fined $1200.

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