told how her ex-boyfriend had terrified her own daughter.

Sandra Ruth, who said her 10-year-old daughter went into counselling after the poison was found, was in court to watch former Mr. Bermuda Carlos Astwood sentenced to two years in jail.

He was the first man convicted under anti-stalking laws in Bermuda.

Astwood admitted lacing Miss Ruth's food, milk, orange juice and even shampoo with paint thinner and dishwashing liquid after breaking into her house in St.

George's on January 5.

After the hearing, an emotional Miss Ruth said: "I'm relieved that he's going to be behind bars for the next two years.

"I wish it was more but it's a start. But I'm always going to have this in the back of my mind, always. I can't ever forget what he's done. My daughter is well aware of everything that's going on. She's in counselling now and she's finding it difficult because she doesn't even know if I'm going to come home each night.

"She's very afraid. She's terrified. She's just so frightened of losing me.'' Astwood, 33, of Highland Road, Hamilton Parish, broke down in tears when Chief Justice Austin Ward read out his sentence.

He had pleaded guilty to all charges and was jailed for two years for attempted grievous bodily harm, two years for breaking and entering, one year for stalking and six months for unlawfully damaging a leather jacket and stereo.

Mr. Justice Ward said all sentences would run concurrently, meaning a total jail term of two years.

He also ordered Astwood to receive counselling and treatment to control "his anger and compulsive behaviour''.

Astwood, in tears, said: "All I would like to say is I express my sincere apologies, My Lord, for everything and to everyone.'' Stalker is sent to prison for two years "I still do care for them. It's not in me to do this sort of thing.'' Crown counsel Leighton Rochester had told the court there had been "a history of advances by Astwood, the ex-boyfriend, who refuses to leave her alone''.

He said new anti-stalking laws came into force last October, adding: "This is undoubtedly the first stalking case before your Lordship.'' Mr. Rochester said Police told Astwood to keep away from Miss Ruth on December 12 and a warning letter was sent to him the next day.

He added that Miss Ruth took a chicken dish out of the fridge, heated it up and served it to her daughter.

Both she and her daughter swallowed some of the food before realising a chemical liquid had been added to it.

Mr. Rochester added: "Then she prepared some cereal for her daughter, took the milk out of the fridge which again, after swallowing some, she realised was tainted.'' He said Miss Ruth noticed the milk bubbling up after it was stirred, "as though it had been concentrated with dishwashing liquid''.

Police were called and Miss Ruth asked her daughter to take a shower -- but the girl, washing her hair, realised there was "an obnoxious smell'' coming from the shampoo.

Mr. Rochester said the liquid was also poured all over the bathroom dresser and a stereo unit and a pocket was ripped out of a $200 leather jacket.

Miss Ruth realised the orange juice was also poisoned the next day, he added.

Astwood's lawyer Tyrone Chin said his client had gone into the house because his bike had broken down in the next street and he wanted to clean his hands.

He said the key to his own apartment fitted the front door and he poured the thinner into a washing-up liquid bottle so he could clear his hands of grease.

But Mr. Chin said Astwood suffered "mixed emotions'' once inside the house -- as a four-year relationship with Miss Ruth had broken up last November.

He also argued that Astwood did not receive the warning letter to keep away from his former girlfriend.

The court heard Astwood, a well-known Bermudian bodybuilder, had six previous convictions spanning nine years.

SANDRA RUTH -- The stalking victim said: "I can't ever forget what he's done.''