A WOMAN sobbed as she told how she had started up her own business which she hoped would be a foundation for the sister she trusted - who now stands accused of trying to murder her.

Rachael Bartlett took the stand to give evidence against her younger sister Cathy Bartlett who is accused of trying to murder her and ripping her off to the tune of more than £100,000.

Hidden behind a screen put in place by the court, so Rachael could not be seen by her sister or anyone in the public gallery, the 34-year-old sobbed as she told of the business she had set up which she hoped would provide a future for Bartlett for whom she wanted "more than just to be a single mum".

Winchester Crown Court has previously heard how Bartlett, a mum of two young children, had been appointed finance manager of Rachael's new company called NurtureItGlobal and was in charge of all transactions and payments.

During that time Bartlett is alleged to have spent thousands of pounds of her sisters money on football tickets she gave away to her lover and friends, expensive vodka, days out at the rugby, hotels and an array of TVs, iPads and go-pros.

Bartlett herself cried silently in the dock and wiped away tears from her face as the court heard how when the business was first formed, Bartlett "played a very big part" by brainstorming ideas, creating website content and generally supporting her sister.

Speaking about how things were going, Rachael told jurors: "we were doing well. I trusted her," adding that her own role in the firm she created was bringing in new clients and then delivering.

It was only after the fire on April 7 this year, when Bartlett allegedly tried to murder Rachael by torching her mothers home as her sister slept inside, that Rachael discovered the state of her finances.

She told the court how police informed her she had no money, that she found two loans had been taken out in her name and her Barclaycard, which she had paid off, had been 'abused'.

Rachael also told how she believed they had won a contract, through Bartlett, with a firm called Futurama. From the emailed invoices she saw, which later proved to be fake, Rachael said her company should have received £20,000.

Jurors heard evidence of a collection of emails Rachael received from a man called Rick McCarthy - who the court heard doesn't exist - thanking her for freeing up Bartlett to work with him and Futurama and praising her for doing "a sterling job".

Rachael said she was led to believe Rick McCarty was a multi millionaire who had his own plane and was in the process of buying a London bank to convert into apartments.

In other emails from him - created by Bartlett who prosecutors say set up a fake email address - Rick McCarthy apologised to Rachael for failing to be free for a meeting.

The court was told there was nobody called Rick McCarthy and that Rachael's firm had never done business with a company, which does exist, called Futurama.

Proceeding.