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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A man who admitted to assaulting his six-year-old daughter with a coat hanger said he "went too far" after he found her playing with matches and setting fire to paper tissues.

The man, 26, pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated assault after a teacher at his daughter's school became alarmed on Oct. 27, 2008 when the girl appeared with visible marks on her.

Crown prosecutor John McFarlane told the court the school had alerted social services and that night RCMP arrested the man.

At that time, the girl and her siblings were placed with a relative. The children have since been returned to their mother.

The girl told police her father "had gotten upset with her and hit her with a coat hanger," said McFarlane. He also presented photos to Judge Robert Gorin of the six-year-old's injuries.

Defence attorney Stephen Shabala said his client admits to hitting her "quite hard. It was one hit."

The man, who has six convictions on his criminal record, told the court he is remorseful for his actions.

"I'm sorry to my daughter," he said tearfully. "I know I went too far. I regret what I did."

Gorin said he believed the man was sincere in his apology but called his actions "over the top" and "repugnant."

The judge said he also realizes the girl was engaging in a dangerous activity and putting everyone in the house at risk.

Despite the Crown's request for two to three months in jail, the man was given a suspended sentence. He will be on probation for one year and will have to follow court conditions, including 75 hours of community service and a DNA order. He is also not to have contact with his daughter unless consented to by the director of child services.

Gorin warned that breaking any of the conditions could land the man in jail.