BRIt AWARDS 2008 with MasterCard EXCLUSIVE: RIHANNA'S YEARS OF HELL

According to www.sundaymirror.co.uk - Superstar Rihanna's dad told last night of his shame after she caught him smoking crack cocaine when she was just nine years old.

Ronald Fenty revealed how the singer - who hopes to win best international female artist at Wednesday's glitzy Brits awards do in London - watched him indulge his lethal habit as she peered through a gap in the kitchen door.

Ronald revealed: "I turned and looked Rihanna in the eye and instantly came back down from the high I was on. I saw her run for her mother, ask her something and then they both started to cry. I had no idea she had been watching.

"It was the lowest point - life just stopped and I realised what a fool I had been."

The moment tore apart Ronald and Rihanna's lives. He was thrown out of the family home in Barbados and stopped from seeing his daughter. But Ronald, 54, managed to kick the drugs and now plays a full part in her life - even joining the 19-year-old sensation on tour. He has also done his best to warn her off drugs - though he's sure she wouldn't touch them anyway.

READ FULL STORY AT www.sundaymirror.co.uk