A SOWETO man has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment after he attempted to kill his daughter and another child with poisoned yoghurt, police said yesterday.

A SOWETO man has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment after he attempted to kill his daughter and another child with poisoned yoghurt, police said yesterday.

Inspector Kay Makhubele said the 36-year-old man was sentenced on Friday in the Protea magistrate's court on two counts of attempted murder.

Makhubele said the man had tried to kill his five-year-old daughter to avoid paying her mother maintenance.

Last week, the man went to his daughter's crèche and asked another person to feed her the poisoned yoghurt. However, the yoghurt was given to a two-year-old girl who shared the same name.

The girl was taken to hospital, treated and a case of attempted murder was opened.

"The following day he went and bought another yoghurt," said Makhubele. His daughter was given the yoghurt and also taken to hospital and treated for poisoning. - Sapa