NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A 30-year-old man was sentenced to two years in prison in Norfolk after he strangled his then-girlfriend back in November, a release states.

On Nov. 30, Trayvon Clinkscales got into an argument with his girlfriend after she expressed wanting to visit her family. During the argument, Clinkscales strangled the victim two separate times, almost to the point of losing consciousness. He then headbutted her in the mouth, knocking out one of her teeth, before leaving the residence.

Clinkscales admitted to the incident during subsequent text messages to the victim, reports states. The woman pursued charges for domestic assault and obtained an emergency protective order. Police observed bruising on her neck and face injuries and, after interviewing the victim, filed additional charged for two count of felony strangulation and one count of malicious wounding.

Clinkscales pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of strangulation and one count of malicious wounding. He was sentenced to serve two years with another eight years suspended on the conditional that have no hostile contact with the victim, pay restitution to the victim and complete five years of uniform good behavior.

“Strangulation is an extremely dangerous leading indicator for an abuser who will kill his victim,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Abusers who strangle are multiple times more likely to murder their victims than those who do not. My office focuses training and resources on prosecuting these cases, because doing so helps keep victims alive. We have secured a felony conviction and a prison sentence against Mr. Clinkscales and hope that this outcome will give the survivor of his crime the opportunity to heal and to move on.”