A 29-year-old father of two was sentenced to three years in prison by the Chief Justice yesterday after pleading guilty to attempted unlawful entry and using a mask to cover his face.

Toronto McDonald Darrell, of Lighthouse Road in Southampton, had been charged with attempting to break into rooms 244 and 246 of the Princess Hotel in Pembroke and attempting to steal the occupants' property.

He had been spotted by two hotel guests on the balcony of room 246 in February of 1994 and chased by a security guard into the nearby yard of Pearman Watlington and Co.

Two weeks ago, attempted housebreaking and attempted theft charges against Darrell were dropped by the Crown after an agreement was reached with Darrell's attorney, Mr. Archie Warner.

As part of the agreement, Darrell then pleaded guilty to attempting to enter room 246 with the intent to steal and using a mask to cover his face.

Yesterday, Mr. Warner argued that Darrell deserved a lenient sentence on the grounds that he had pleaded guilty to the charges, had shown remorse for his actions and was under the influence of drugs when he committed them.

He added that Darrell, who has admitted to a drug problem, had undergone "some sessions'' at the Montrose Substance Abuse Centre.

Before he was sentenced, the previously convicted Darrell told the judge: "I apologise for being here once again. There is so much that I'm going through and want you to understand. Having been incarcerated for the past year, I have had ample time to think about where I went wrong. I have now allowed God into my life, and it's made a big difference.'' Chief Justice the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward then sentenced Darrell to 18 months in jail for wearing the mask and three years for attempting to enter the hotel room.

The sentences are to be served concurrently.

Darrell, who has a nine-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son, had been in custody for the offences since February 12 of last year.

Justice Ward ruled that the time Darrell had already spent in jail be subtracted from the sentence and also ordered Darrell to undergo treatment for his drug addiction.