MP's wife to face trial over kitten theft claims

The wife of the Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming has appeared before magistrates charged with burgling the house of her husband's lover and stealing a kitten. Christine Hemming was not required to enter a plea during a brief appearance at Birmingham magistrates' court. Mrs Hemming, of Moseley, Birmingham, is alleged to have burgled the home of Emily Cox, a researcher with whom the Birmingham Yardley MP fathered a child in 2005.

The burglary is alleged to have been committed, contrary to the 1968 Theft Act, at night on September 29. Magistrates were given a brief outline of the alleged facts in the case and committed Mrs Hemming, 52, a senior partner with a city recruitment agency, for crown court trial. The Lib Dem MP's spouse was granted conditional bail and will reappear before magistrates for a committal hearing on December 16.



Mr Hemming, who was elected as an MP in 2005, was unavailable for comment. The fate of the cat was not made clear in court, but a picture of the animal, apparently called Beauty, was posted on Mr Hemming's blog under the heading "kitten missing" at 8.07am today. The photograph was accompanied by a message which read: "If anyone has seen this kitten please contact me at the House of Commons. There is a reward for its return."

Liberal Democrat Mr Hemming, who described his domestic status as "an unclear situation", said: "I would just like the cat back. Later, he said: "I have spent some time looking for the kitten and there is a reward for the safe return of the kitten. Her brother Twinkle is pining for her." Millionaire John Hemming, Liberal Democrat MP for Yardley, has had a colourful love life. He fathered a love child and his wife once claimed that he had at least 26 affairs.