Woman who tried to burn sister alive to cover up theft branded 'evil' by judge

A mother of two has been branded “evil” by a judge, who jailed her for 25 years for the attempted murder of her sister who she tried to burn alive in a “ruthless and breathtaking” bid to cover up the theft of nearly £140,000 from her family.

Cathy Bartlett, 30, was convicted at Winchester Crown Court following a four-week trial which heard that she passed herself off as a successful businesswoman while committing fraud against her sister Rachael to fund her luxury lifestyle.