SHE was the fantasist driven by pure greed – and tried to kill to cover up her lies.

Deluded by visions of grandeur, Cathy Bartlett ripped off her sister by more than £100,000 – wanting lovers, friends and even complete strangers to believe she was something she wasn’t.

When her web of deceit was on the verge of being uncovered her wickedness turned to pure evil as she tried to murder her sister by turning arsonist in a bid to burn her alive as she slept.

And today the Daily Echo can exclusively reveal a new twist in the tale as detectives have reopened a case against Bartlett – described in court as “warped and devious” – amid allegations she defrauded the family of her former partner, and father of their two children, of more than £50,000.

Hampshire Police confirmed they were now looking again at the claims reported to them to decide if there are further alleged crimes to be put before a court.

They are remaining tight lipped about the exact amount of money allegedly involved, but said it was “significant”.

They must now decide with the Crown Prosecution Service if it is in the public interest to further the enquiry and consider prosecuting Bartlett again.

Today, Bartlett is facing a lengthy prison term and the likelihood she will not see her little girls grow up for crimes which the court heard were significantly premeditated and had serious aggravating factors.

The 30-year-old quietly cried in the dock as the verdicts were returned.

There was also the sound of sobbing from the public gallery where victim Rachael was sat, being comforted by friends.

Yards away sat the parents of both girls, having supported Bartlett by giving evidence in her defence.

The court had previously heard how the Bartlett family had been torn apart by the lies and deceit while Rachael had been left bewildered by her parents choosing to believe and side with Bartlett, who is said to have twice tried to kill her in ferocious fires.

As reported, the first blaze happened in March this year at the home of their father Michael, in Whitemoor Lane, Winsor, which was razed to the ground in the early hours of March 6.

Jurors were told that Bartlett was the prime suspect, fearing her treachery of her own sibling was about to be uncovered, but no charges were ever brought as all evidence was destroyed in the ferocious fire.

It was a miracle that Rachael survived, the jury was told, and she had her dog Jade to thank for the fact she escaped with her life from the burning mobile home.

The second blaze broke out a month later, in the early hours of the morning after Easter Monday, when a “calculated and devious” Bartlett poured petrol on the stairs of her mother Frances’ home in New Inn Lane, and set it alight, having first disabled a working smoke alarm.

Rachael only survived after pulling herself through a Velux window on to the roof, from where she plunged to the concrete below after losing her grip.

The motive, the court heard, was because Bartlett was hours away from having her enormous web of lies uncovered by Rachael who was due to meet with her bank, where she would have discovered her accounts had been plundered.

Speaking after the verdict, Detective Inspector David Jackson, said: “This is a case which as ripped the Bartlett family apart. It was very clear that she was fully intent on taking Rachel’s life, and that she left her with little choice.

“For months, Cathy had been stealing money from her own sister to fund a lavish lifestyle; spending money on others in an attempt to enhance her own perceived social status.

“Then, in a bid to cover her tracks, she committed this terrible crime against her sister.

“All of those who have worked on this investigation and those who have been following this case will be truly disgusted by Cathy’s actions and the lengths she has gone to in a bid to try and cover up what she has done.

“Now that the trial is over and justice has been served, I hope this will bring closure for Rachel and she can move on with her life.”