A "dishonest and manipulative" wife tried to murder her husband during a bondage sex session after squandering his money, a court was told.

Dena Thompson, 40, allegedly attacked spouse Richard with a baseball bat and knife as he lay bound on their bathroom floor.

The petite blonde plotted to kill him because she feared he would discover she had spent thousands of pounds behind his back, a jury heard.

Thompson, described as prone to "fantasy and attention seeking", tied him up with masking tape and a belt before hitting his head with her son's bat.

But he managed to struggle free and fight her off as she slipped in his blood.

The alleged murder bid happened in January at Willow Cottage, the couple's £175,000 bungalow in Rustington, near Littlehampton.

They met when Mr Thompson, 42, answered a Lonely Hearts advert in a Friday Ad in October 1998 and by Christmas Thompson had moved in with her son.

Philip Katz, prosecuting, told Lewes Crown Court that Thompson, who claimed to be a college teacher, soon began weaving "extraordinary lies", including one that she had won £300,000 on the National Lottery.

Mr Thompson dreamed of starting a new life as a fishing captain in America and the pair made a number of trips to Florida, marrying on a beach last April.

Prior to the alleged attack, Thompson was said to have got her husband to change his will to make her the beneficiary and he had granted her power of attorney.

She also allegedly made inquiries about the surrendering of an £89,000 life insurance policy in his name and even put his house up for sale without telling him.

Mr Katz told the jury that Thompson had already pleaded guilty to seven criminal offences involving dishonesty in relation to her husband's financial affairs.

Thompson denies attempted murder. The case continues.