A company director who escaped a fire allegedly started by her sister in a plot to kill her, admitted saying she would "have a party" if she got sent to prison for the crime.

Under cross examination at Winchester Crown Court Rachael Bartlett admitted saying the phrase about her sister Cathy "in temper".

Cathy Bartlett is accused of attempting to murder her sister by starting a fire at their mother's house in Bartley where Rachael was staying at the time in the early morning of April 7.

The prosecution claims that it was in an effort to stop her sister finding out that Bartlett had plundered £100,000 through her position as finance manager of the company owned by Rachael.

Bartlett allegedly spent the money on buying tickets to football and rugby matches along with festivals and hotel stays for her and her friends.

Defence counsel Andy Houston put it to Rachael that she had told her mother that she would throw a party if her sister was convicted of the charges against her.

Rachael said she had, adding:"I was angry, I had been in two fires."

Mr Houston also suggested to Rachael it was her who started the fire at her mother's home, having driven over to pick up a can of petrol from her dad's shed and then dousing the stairs with it and setting it alight.

When asked how she felt about that suggestion by the prosecution Charlie Gabb, she said it did not surprise her.

"I am not surprised because that is the picture she has painted of me to people," she said.

During cross examination Rachael was asked about a conversation her father had allegedly organised between the sisters after Bartlett had been arrested. In it Rachael told the court her sister had apologised for taking her money and that of her father, who had also had money stolen from him by Bartlett, it has been claimed.

Rachael denied the suggestion that Bartlett only apologised for taking her dads money, which Rachael estimated to be some £80,000.

She also admitted considering the suggestion by her father to take the blame for the fire instead of her sister.

Rachael told jurors: "I considered it yeah. When you love someone unconditionally, and miss her and I didn't want my parents to be heartbroken.

"I did come to my senses and spoke to a friend who told me not to be so stupid."

The court also heard from Julian Lane who described his relationship with Bartlett as being 'a friend with benefits'.

He said that from the start of their relationship Bartlett gave him electrical goods including an iPad, a television and GoPro which Bartlett claimed to have got through work.

She also treated him and his son to days out at football matches saying they too were free through her work contacts. He also told jurors how he and on occasions his friends stayed overnight at the Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton after being told the bill 'would be wiped'.

Bartlett, 30, denies attempted murder, arson with intent to endanger life and ten counts of fraud.

Proceeding