FORMER Saints striker Leroy Whale told a court how he fell out with alleged attempted killer Cathy Bartlett who worked as his personal assistant for a year.

Mr Whale told a jury at Winchester Crown Court that she worked for him when he was sales director of Futurama, a corporate branding company.

Cathy Bartlett, 30, is accused of setting fire to her mother's house in New Inn Lane, Bartley, in April to kill her sister Rachael.

The court has heard the alleged motive was to cover her tracks after Bartlett had stolen £100,000 from her sister.

Mr Whale said Bartlett worked for Futurama in 2006-07, with a contract in Nursling, the last year as his PA.

He said: "She was hard-working, a good PA. However there were always problems, family issues, burglaries, cars breaking down."

When the Nursling contract ended Bartlett was released by Futurama, the court heard.

Mr Whale said after not hearing from her for around seven years she contacted him in 2014 to ask him to play in a charity golf event she was organising.

Later Bartlett gave Mr Whale free corporate entertaining tickets for Saints homes matches against Manchester United and Everton.

He described Bartlett as a "quite a funny girl" with whom his girlfriend Bernadette got on well.

But they fell out after Mr Whale asked her to get him a hospitality box at a reduced price for the Chelsea match. Bartlett said she could but let him down.

"As the match got closer I texted her asking for the tickets. She said they they were coming, she had to go to Portsmouth to get them, but her car broke down and she couldn't get them. The lady was taking the tickets to her but her car had a blow-out.

"I said if it is not going to happen let me know as I have work colleagues coming from London, it's not a problem. If they have let you down please let me know. I phoned the club and they said they had no booking for it.

"I had to go to the games and get tickets scattered around the ground for my friends, he added.

Asked by Charles Gabb, prosecuting, if he thought he had been lied to, Mr Whale replied: "I did, yes. It was a shame, I thought we had some sort of relationship as a friend, and for her to do that. My girlfriend liked her and there was no need for her to do that."

He texted her to ask her to return a signed Saints shirt. She never did, said Mr Whale.

Questioned by Andy Houston, defending, Mr Whale denied being lent £9,000 from Bartlett.

He said he had given her valuable memorabilia, including Beatles and Mohammed Ali items, for her to sell. He had hoped for £10,000 but Bartlett told him they had only sold for £4,000. He never saw any receipts or bank statements. Bartlett had lent him £5,000 which he had repaid with £500 on top.

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

Proceeding.