A Whitehorse man has been sentenced to two years in jail for attacking his girlfriend while she slept.

Valentine Porter pleaded guilty to one count of assault and one count of assault causing bodily harm and was sentenced this morning in Yukon territorial court.

In March 2013, the 32-year-old entered his former girlfriend's home through a window and punched and kicked her while she slept on the couch.

She spent five days in the hospital recovering, Judge Donald Luther said in his decision, calling the assault "brutal.”

Porter had been drinking at the time, the court heard.

The two-year sentence was a joint submission from both the Crown and defence lawyers.

Porter was originally charged with aggravated assault but pleaded guilty to the lesser charges.

In accepting the guilty pleas, Luther pointed out that Porter was sparing his victim the need to testify during a trial.

The judge said that, had the case proceeded to trial and Porter was found guilty, he would have likely been facing a federal prison sentence.

The second charge stems from a confrontation six months earlier, in September 2012.

In that case, the woman was struck and pushed down the stairs.

These are the seventh and eighth crimes of violence on Porter's criminal record.

The offender comes from a family with a history of drug and alcohol problems.

He was in the custody of territorial family and children services personnel from the age of eight until he "aged out” of the system at 16.

Luther said he was aware of Porter's history but "there comes a time when a person has to move beyond their unfortunate background,” he said, encouraging Porter to find a better path.

The judge pointed out that Porter has a history of holding down gainful employment, including working as a guide and working at the Wolverine Mine.

He had no new criminal charges for two years leading up to 2012.

After delivering his sentence, the judge encouraged Porter to give up drinking.

"For you it has to be no drinking, period,” he said.

Porter was given 90 days' credit for the time he has already spent behind bars.

Once he is released, he will be on probation for 18 months.