SALEM – “I made my plea. It is what it is. I just want to be a man,” said 22-year-old Timothy Michael Burke, of Peabody, as he confessed to a string of attacks on his former girlfriend dating back to 2007.The most resent incidents involved smashing his former girlfriend?s car window while their 2-year-old son was inside, and then, during a rage last year in Peabody District Court, he flipped over a table after being detained for his violent behavior.Burke, also known as “Timbo,” of 5 McIntire Court, Peabody, pleaded guilty Friday morning in Salem Superior Court to 16 counts that included reckless endangerment of a child, breaking and entering in the daytime, two counts of aggravated assault and battery, three counts of intimidation of a witness, two counts of assault and battery as well as assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, malicious damage to property, malicious damage to a motor vehicle, assault and battery on a public servant, disruption of court proceedings and assault with a dangerous weapon before Judge Howard J. Whitehead.Burke was sentenced to serve not less than five years and not more than seven years in state prison.When he is released, Burke will be on probation for another five years at which time he will undergo a batterers intervention program, parenting classes, mental health counseling and treatment as directed, and is required to comply with any directions to take medications prescribed.In addition, a no abuse order involving his former girlfriend was imposed, he will be evaluated for drug and alcohol counseling and treatment as deemed necessary and must be in school full time, employed or in a treatment program.In handing down the punishment, Whitehead stressed to Burke that if he does not abide by all the conditions, he is facing 30-plus years behind bars.Whitehead said he felt the punishment recommended by Assistant District Attorney Melissa A. Woodard and defense lawyer Christopher Norris was “exactly the appropriate punishment.”?It is up to you to step up now and change your life,” Whitehead emphasized to Burke.Woodard said that Burke and his now 21-year-old former girlfriend had a dating relationship that was volatile going back to the summer of 2007 when she was seven months pregnant with their son. Then, he pulled her legs from under her as she was going up a flight of stairs during an argument at her home in Beverly.In another incident in 2007, he shoved her into a pole.On New Year?s Eve in 2007, he pulled a knife on her and punched her in the face after pulling her into a bathroom during an event in Beverly because he was angry because she went to the party and he wanted her to leave with him.Then in June of 2008, Burke was getting increasingly agitated with the victim. He broke into her apartment in Beverly, smashed her television and poured bleach onto her clothes, destroying them.In July of 2008, she was granted a restraining order prohibiting him from seeing her, but he sent several threatening letters and made phone calls to her from the jail.After the victim broke off their relationship, she got involved in a new relationship and became pregnant.Last August Burke saw pictures of their now 2-year-old son and her new boyfriend on her MySpace page and became enraged.He called her several times on her cell phone and told her to come and pick up their son, who had been visiting with him at his mother?s residence on McIntyre Court.When she arrived last Aug. 17, the five-month pregnant victim was grabbed by the throat by Burke who began to strangle her in the driveway. When he let go she tried to call for help on her cell phone, but he grabbed the cell phone and smashed it on the ground.She ran to her Plymouth Neon, her son in her arms, and proceeded to place him inside the rear seat of her car. Burke followed them, punched out the rear driver?s side window with his fists, causing smashed glass to fly all over her son as they quickly drove away.Three weeks l