A MAN who attacked his partner while driving on the Midland Highway near Goornong has been sentenced to 64 days in prison.

Izaak Zenith, 40, of Kangaroo Flat, pleaded guilty to reckless conduct endangering life and assault in relation to the February 22 incident.

The court heard he was driving back from a holiday in Cobram with his partner and four children when an argument started and he repeatedly hit the woman.

The fight caused Zenith to veer onto the wrong side of the road repeatedly, as witnessed by motorists in front of the car.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Tony Graham said Zenith dragged the woman from the car by her throat and threw her to the ground.

He then dragged the two older children from the car and drove away with the two younger children, aged 1 and 5.

The court heard Zenith drove towards a tree with the younger children in the car, before driving north back towards Elmore where he handed himself in at the police station.

Defence solicitor Kate Youngson told the court Zenith knew he had done the wrong thing, and had "snapped when he shouldn't have done".

She said the argument was "the straw that broke the camel's back" for Zenith.

Magistrate Richard Wright said the victim impact statement demonstrated the effect the attack had on the victim, who had now ended the relationship.

He said Zenith's actions were at the "top end" of offending.

Zenith was deemed to be a "moderate risk of re-offending".

Zenith has already served 32 of his 64 days in prison and will be placed on a 12 month community corrections order and must complete 100 hours of community service.