Heather Mook tricked husband John into taking the tablets and rat poison in order to confuse him while she fleeced his mother of £43,000.

It is thought she laced his spaghetti bolognese with rat pellets and later tricked him into taking the tablets after he'd carried out some DIY, telling him they were muscle relaxants.

She even drugged him with further tablets while he was in hospital recovering from the poisoning.

The 58-year-old, who has a string of previous convictions for dishonesty, had previously poisoned her seven-year-old daughter with anti-depressants crumbled into her food.

Mook, of Heslington Road, York, was convicted of two counts of poisoning her husband so as to endanger his life, and had admitted less serious alternative charges, including administering rat killer and 19 theft-related offences.

Judge James Spencer QC, sitting at York Crown Court today, described her as a "dangerous woman" and told Mook she was being given an indeterminate sentence to protect the public and will only be considered for parole after she has served five years.

Mr Mook was left confused, tired and agitated by the poisoning but later recovered.

After today's hearing, the 60-year-old said he was relieved the case was over and happy to be alive.