stern warning from a magistrate yesterday.

Albert Wolffe pleaded guilty before Senior Magistrate Will Francis to stalking Zina Wolffe between April 10 and August 27, and breaching a domestic violence protection order between those dates.

Wolffe, 37, of Curving Avenue, also admitted assaulting Ms Wolffe on August 10. He was fined $200 on each count, which must be paid by the end of September or he faces 50 days in prison.

"I want you to take a warning from this because it could get worse for you if you keep up,'' Mr. Francis told Wolffe. "Next time around the penalty could get a lot stiffer and prison could be the result.'' Mr. Francis had heard that the Wolffe's divorce last December and the protection order -- which bars him from coming within 300 yards of his ex-wife and harassing her verbally, even by phone -- was issued on February 2. Crown counsel Lesley Basden said Wolffe repeatedly violated the conditions of the order, including entering Ms Wolffe's St. George's home ostensibly at the request of the couple's children.

On other occasions, Wolffe left abusive messages on her answering machine and met her at work to talk about child support payments, despite her protests to leave her alone.

Four times between August 1 and 16, Wolffe had contact with Ms Wolffe, including grabbing her strongly by the arm as she tried to unlock her cycle on Reid Street. Ms Basden said Ms Wolffe was leaving her job on Reid Street at 6.45 p.m. last Friday when Wolffe walked up and again began to talk aggressively to her. She eventually walked into Hamilton Police Station to make yet another complaint. Wolffe was arrested in the Captain's Lounge on Reid Street at 7.15 p.m.

Wolffe told Mr. Francis: "I want to say the circumstances are unfortunate because things are beyond your understanding.'' "So be it if you want to judge me,'' he continued. "I plead guilty on behalf of my children.''