The 17-month plot to kill businesswoman Sadie Hartley was chronicled in 'damning' diaries by accomplice Katrina Walsh, of Hare Lane in Guilden Sutton.

The ‘avid writer’ wrote a ‘remarkable and compelling’ record of their actions, which was later found by detectives in the eaves of her farm in Chester.

The diary entries revealed how Walsh wanted to bring an ISIS flag to the murder scene to ‘mislead the investigation’ and to teach 35-year-old Sarah Williams, of Treborth Road in Blacon, how to ride a motorbike for a ‘hit’ on Ms Hartley.

Walsh also described how she was ‘so buzzing’ at the prospect of ‘plotting the perfect murder’ and later told police that she kept the diaries because her memory was so poor.

Det Supt Paul Withers, senior investigating officer on the case, said: “They gave a very good picture of the thought process of these two people where she talks about killing Sadie Hartley.

“This really sums it up for me where she says ‘I have no moral qualms, just a serious don’t let us get caught twinge’.

“The diaries talk about plans they have about covering their tracks. They are discussing and planning murdering somebody. There is clearly a steely determination to get rid of Sadie Hartley.”

Here are a selection of Katrina Walsh’s diary entries:

September 2014

“Sarah came round so got caught up in endless murder plots for Ian’s other half.”

June 2015

“We’re also seriously talking of getting rid of her opponent. I agree is probably a good play… she does seem to be a totally evil bitch.”

August 2015

“Wow, I may get to be instrumental in helping remove the awful woman! This may happen. Wow! “Am unexpectedly excited by it. Was so buzzing so much I needed a Southern Comfort to wind down a bit.”

After Walsh’s ex-husband Kevin Walsh declined to get involved in anything “dodgy”, she wrote:

“A lot of texts from Sarah, Kev not going for the idea of being a hitman after all, scuppered that idea. Plan B will be needed.

“When my mobile went off, Sarah, So I could say yes to her coming round and we could plot to take the bint out as Kev was a bust on it, I’m going to be involved now, Heaven help me!!

She later added: “I have no moral qualms, just a serious don’t let us get caught twinge.”

September 2015

Walsh refers to thoughts in her diary of a ‘hit’ on a motorcycle which was later aborted.

She also said they considered taking the ISIS flag to the scene to ‘mislead the investigation’ and fool the police into thinking it was a terrorist attack.

She said: “I’m much more into that. Fortunately Sarah’s had an idea that would spare me the anxiety as she things [sic] of just riding on a motorcycle, killing and leaving said floosy [sic] and riding off. I just have to clandestinely train Sarah to ride a bike and store said bike.”

She later added: “Sarah turned up. Caught Hunted (Channel 4 television show). Then discussed plans to off the c***.”

October 2015

“Just buzzing too much over the end of Hunted and all the planning after. Sarah has ordered a GPS tracker on my credit card to be delivered here and will give me cash for it. That’s fine as I’m not going to be involved at the sharp end.”

December 2015

“I said no matter what her way of testing the bitch, then she (Williams) could do with that zapper or she risks being injured herself.”

She added: “So will get a trip to Germany out of this. Took ages to wind down, all the excitement of plotting the perfect murder.”