A 36-year-old man accused of using a belt to beat his girlfriend was given a lengthy prison sentence by a Nebraska judge who called him "a serial abuser."

Robert Clayborne, of Lincoln, had pleaded no contest to assault and one weapons count. The judge sentenced him to 15 to 20 years in prison for the assault, and 10 to 15 years on the weapons charge. Prosecutors had dropped two other weapons counts in return for the pleas.

Clayborne's girlfriend reported to police that she'd been beaten in December after he accused her of cheating. She said Clayborne pulled her out of a shower, beat her with a belt and threatened her with a knife. The beating lasted two hours, she said.

In court on Tuesday for his sentencing, Clayborne said the incident lasted about 15 minutes.

"I'm not a danger to society. I just have a problem with women," Clayborne told the judge, adding that he was drinking that day.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Lory Pasold asked the judge to give Clayborne a substantial sentence and alluded to his criminal record, which includes jail time and assault cases in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Washington.

"I think we're to the point Mr. Clayborne needs to be stopped," Pasold said.

Judge Stephanie Stacy of Lancaster County District Court told Clayborne that he was "a serial abuser" whose previous sentences hadn't impressed upon him the need to change.

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Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, http://www.journalstar.com